Acute shortage of doctors in PHCs and CHCs has crippled health services in rural pockets of the district. At Bhuban block, the CHC is being manned by one medicine specialist Hemant Kumar Mishra, who also acts as the administrative in-charge of the healthcare centre.
The paediatrician and gynaecologist posts remain vacant. While the paediatrician has been transferred with no replacement, the gynaecologist often remains absent. “Often pregnant women and newborn babies are ignored as there is no doctor to attend them. I cannot look after all the patients as I am already overturned,” Mishra said.
Doctors are also not available for ENT, surgery and several other departments. Similar is the case with Baladiabandh PHC of Sadar block. As per official reports, the State Government has sanctioned 151 doctors for the district. However, 50 per cent of the posts are vacant.
In Mathkargola CHC of Kamakshyanagar block and Sriramchandrapur CHC of Gondia block, there is only one doctor each for sanctioned five each.
Recently, a three-member committee constituted by the Orissa High Court to take stock of healthcare facilities in the State has expressed dissatisfaction over the health care infrastructure at the hospital. During its visit, the members had expressed concern at the prevailing state-of-affairs that included lack of doctors, garbage heaps on the hospital premises, leaking roof and walls and patients lying at the verandah of the hospital amid unhygienic conditions.
In the district headquarters hospital, the anaesthetist post had remained vacant for a long time. Although one anaesthetist joined a few days back, he remains absent frequently.
Chief District Medical Officer BC Behera said the Health Secretary was informed about the vacancies during the CDMOs’ conference in Bhubaneswar recently.