Kerala’s health department has proposed a 30% hike in the remote-rural allowance for doctors to address the long-pending issue of acute staff shortages at rural health facilities, particularly Medical College Hospitals (MCHs). The department believes the proposed increase will help improve facilities and services and attract specialist doctors to MCHs in Idukki, Kasaragod, and Wayanad. Although the state government has established MCHs in all districts, several institutions, including those in Kasaragod, Palakkad, Wayanad, Pathanamthitta, and Idukki, lack adequate doctors, affecting patient care and specialized services.

“Several medical colleges have the infrastructure, but lack doctors to ensure that specialised treatment and services are available and accessible to patients. Providing a remote-rural allowance would motivate doctors to choose these medical colleges for work,” a…