Mon Mar 03 13:34:06 UTC 2025: ## Kerala Faces Severe Doctor Shortage in Government Hospitals

**Kozhikode, March 3, 2025** – Kerala’s government hospitals are grappling with a critical shortage of doctors, particularly specialists, according to a report in *The Hindu*. Data from the Comptroller and Auditor General of India reveals a significant disparity in doctor-to-population ratios across the state.

The shortage affects all staff categories, with approximately 11% of the 49,496 sanctioned posts vacant as of March 2023. Districts like Kasaragod, Kozhikode, and Malappuram face the most severe shortages (13%). Kozhikode and Malappuram have been categorized as having “extremely poor” doctor-population ratios, with one doctor for every 7,245 and 7,437 people, respectively. This compares poorly to Pathanamthitta, which has a ratio of 1:3,411. Other districts, such as Palakkad, Thrissur, and Kollam also show significantly lower than ideal ratios.

The shortage is particularly acute in casualty departments, where inadequate staffing and a lack of triage systems are reported in Kozhikode. Furthermore, the district lacks superspeciality doctors, with the exception of a forensic surgeon.

The report highlights discrepancies between the required and sanctioned number of specialist doctors. District-level hospitals fall short by 16% of the required 614 posts, while community health centers (CHCs) lack 147 doctors. Even the Ardram scheme’s goal of three medical officers per family health center (FHC) is unmet, with only 12 of 32 audited FHCs meeting the staffing requirement.

The Kerala Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) voiced concerns about the situation, emphasizing the need for immediate action to address the critical doctor shortage and improve healthcare access across the state.

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