BHADRAK:Healthcare in Bhadrak district is almost paralysed as a large number of posts including doctors in the hospitals remains vacant.
Having a population of over 15 lakh, the district has seven community health centres (CHCs) and 50 primary health centres besides the District Headquarters Hospital (Bhadrak Hospital). Out of total 141 sanctioned doctor posts in the district, 49 are lying vacant.
In the Bhadrak Hospital, posts of two senior surgery specialists, one specialist each in Anaesthesia and Ophthalmology and 13 Junior Class I doctor posts are lying vacant. On an average, 600 to 700 patients are registered at the out patient department (OPD) of the hospital daily with a majority of them coming from rural areas.
Similarly, four doctor posts each in Agarpada, Bhandaripokhari and Chandbali CHCs, nine in Dhamnagar CHC, six in Barpada CHC and three each in Basudevpur and Tihidi CHC are vacant. Of 92 doctors appointed in the district, 16 are on contract basis. The strength of doctors will fall to 76 once the contract period of these doctors is over after one year.
If shortage of doctors is one problem, the people: hospital ratio is dismal. As per norms, there should be one CHC for a population of 50,000, a PHC (new) for 20,000 people and one PHC (old) for 10,000 people. In Bhadrak, there is one CHC for more than two lakh population and one PHC (new) for 30,000 population. The district does not have a sub-divisional hospital.
This apart, existing health centres barring a few PHCs lack necessary equipment, sanitation measures, sufficient stock of medicines and vaccines like anti-rabies, anti-snake venom.
Locals demanded that the State Government should immediately take note of the deteriorating condition of hospitals here. As most of the PHCs and CHCs are understaffed, even less critical patients reporting at these health institutions are referred either to District Headquarters Hospital or SCB Medical College and Hospital at Cuttack.
Chief District Medical Officer Ramesh Mohanty said he sends a list of vacant doctor positions to the Health Department every month, but no step has been taken so far.