Despite receiving opposition from doctors, the health department in Kerala has decided to extend the OP timings to 6 pm from 9 am even in hospitals with more than four doctors on call.

The move will first be implemented at the 102 community health centres (CHCs) across the state. Doctors, however, have opposed the change calling it undemocratic. A similar order was supposed to be passed in April this year but was later frozen after the doctors went on an indefinite strike. Doctors believe that if a CHC has more than 4 doctors, they would easily be able to handle OPs till evening. On the other hand, if such a policy came into place and doctors would have to sit in the OP until 6 pm, it would affect inpatient care and other activities carried out at the CHC.

Information for this article was sourced from Times of India. Read the original here.