Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss has called on the Tamil Nadu government to promptly enhance the state’s public healthcare system due to a persistent lack of medical staff in government hospitals. Ramadoss highlighted that while healthcare facilities have expanded significantly in the past decade, there has been a lag in developing manpower. Despite the establishment and upgrade of hospitals, there has not been a proportional increase in medical and support personnel.
Ramadoss pointed out that there has been no significant addition of new government doctor positions since 2015, despite a surge in patient numbers post-COVID-19. The influx of patients seeking treatment in government hospitals has more than tripled recently, straining the existing healthcare workforce. He emphasized that Tamil Nadu needs double the current number of doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff as per Indian Public Health Standards to ensure effective healthcare services.
The PMK leader highlighted that the staffing of new facilities like the Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital and others is predominantly through transfers from existing hospitals rather than creating new dedicated posts. He also advocated for revising Government Order No. 354 to achieve pay parity for state government doctors with their central government counterparts. Ramadoss stressed that better remuneration and career advancement would enhance the efficiency and morale of medical professionals.
Ramadoss further called for the full implementation of the 50% reservation for Tamil Nadu government doctors in super-speciality courses, expansion of nursing positions, regularization of contract nurses, and the creation of permanent posts for hospital support staff. He demanded improved medical services such as round-the-clock X-ray facilities in district hospitals, expanded CT scan and MRI services, timely appointment of health inspectors, stringent quality control of medicines and supplies, and the establishment of management committees for overseeing infrastructure development and quality assurance. Stressing the significance of accessible healthcare, Ramadoss urged the government to prioritize these measures to ensure quality and timely medical services for the people of Tamil Nadu.
