CHITRADURGA: Pregnant women admitted to the district hospital experience shortage of staff and infrastructure and a majority of them sleep on floor in the postnatal rest period.
The 450-bed hospital was constructed according to the needs of the population of the district in 1948. "Today, the same hospital has to cater to the needs of more than 17 lakh people, how can we provide medical facilities to all?" says resident doctor Jagadish.
Dr Jagadish told Express that the primary health centres and taluk hospitals which have to take care of maternity, have failed on their part.
"They are referring pregnancy cases to district hospital creating a rush here," he added.
He said that earlier, Holalkere hospital used to share the responsibility but with the transfer of the gynaecologist, the burden fell on the district hospital.
Majority of the population in the backward district are below poverty line, they can ill afford cost of the private hospitals which leaves them with no choice, but the government hospital. The government should intervene at the earliest and enhance the hospital to 1000 beds, according to people.
Jagadish informed that Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of the district hospital is the best in the state equipped with stateofart incubator unit.
He explained that the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) had sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for extending NICU and the work was assigned to Nirmiti Kendra. However, the Karnataka Health System Development and Reforms Project (KHSDRP) raised objections to assigning work to Nirmiti Kendra and the work was stopped.
But in Chitradurga about 50 percent of patients who get admitted to the district hospital are getting operated. On an average basis, the doctors of MCH (Mother and Child care) take care of 500 patients.