The New Indian Express ·
Manpower crunch ails healthcare as 783 medical officer posts lie vacant in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The health department is grappling with a severe manpower deficit, with 783 vacant medical officer positions across all 14 districts. The shortfall spans the entire public healthcare hierarchy, ranging from entry-level assistant surgeons to senior administrative posts and chief consultants.
The acute staffing gap is most heavily concentrated in the entry-level assistant surgeon cadre, which accounts for 431 unfilled posts statewide. Kasaragod emerges as the hardest-hit district, reporting 113 assistant surgeon vacancies alone, followed by Palakkad with 87 and Kannur with 70. Outlying districts like Idukki and Pathanamthitta are also facing operational strains with 41 and 25 vacant assistant surgeon positions, respectively.
Beyond primary care, specialised medical services in public facilities are experiencing a major deficit, with over 300 specialist posts remaining open across consultant, junior consultant, and senior consultant ranks.
