Thiruvananthapuram: Various organisations in health sector have come up against handing over the responsibilities of COVID resistance to the police force. The Kerala Government Medical Officers' Association (KGMOA) stated that entrusting the duties including preparing contact lists of COVID patients to the police will result in serious consequences.
The people who are trained in health related subjects should manage these matters. The police should be given only the responsibility of checking the status of the persons in quarantine and taking further action. The health related works should be completely handled by health workers. KGMOA forwarded a letter to the chief minister pointing out these matters.
Health inspectors' Union and Indian Medical Association (IMA) also opposed the decision to entrust the responsibilities of health sector with the police force. IMA opined that handing over duties like preparation of contact list to the police was unacceptable. It also demanded that the duties of the health workers should be given back to them.
The chief minister announced on Monday that the police force will be given more responsibilities in connection with the COVID resistance activities. The association of health department employees informed that they will stage protest if the decision is not withdrawn.
There were reports that the chief minister decided to hand over more duties to the police force without the knowledge of the expert committee.
Meanwhile, teachers also have been assigned to collect information and report violation of COVID protocol on behalf of the police force. This was decided after the number of COVID patients increased considerably.
