Kozhikode: Government General Hospital to keep transgenders in pink

KOZHIKODE: For the first time in Kozhikode, a special clinic exclusively for transgenders will be started at the Government General Hospital, Kozhikode Beach. It is learnt that the proposal put up by the Kozhikode District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) has been approved by the Director of Health Services (DHS) in principle. A special clinic for transgenders, who complain about the indifferent attitude they face in hospital outpatient departments in various hospitals including the Government Medical College, will be a boon.

At present, exclusive clinics for transgenders are functioning at Kottayam Medical College and Pathanamthitta District Government Hospital.  DLSA Secretary and Sub Judge R L Baiju told Deccan Chronicle that he would soon hold discussions with the Hospital Superintendent to decide about the establishment of the facility, timing and staff required. “When they go to hospitals, they find it difficult as there is no separate queue for them. They have to stand either in the men’s or women’s queue and obviously some tension arises there. An exclusive clinic would help them to feel that they have special status in society and are not outcasts,” he said.

“We are also planning to give a special slip or OP ticket when they are referred to higher hospitals like the Medical College in order to ensure they get priority in referral hospitals too where there are no special clinics for transgenders,” he added. The DLSA is planning to start the clinic by September-end where a medical team will examine the community members on specific days at a particular space in the Hospital. The DLSA is also planning to hold an awareness class for the medical team dealing with  treatment of transgenders.