Staff crunch hits health services

The New Indian Express, April 19, 2007

BHAWANIPATNA: Acute shortage of manpower and alleged non-cooperation among the line department staff have derailed health services in Kalahandi district.

Against the sanctioned strength of 179, there are only 101 posts in the district. According to a report of district unit of the Health Department, as many as 25 doctors are absent and seven are reportedly on unauthorised leave.

In the district headquarters hospital itself, 17 posts are vacant including those of class-I junior anaesthetist, radiologist, skin and VD specialist, pathologist, chest and TB specialist and neurosurgeon. The only dental surgeon in the hospital has been posted on a contractual basis.

The sub-divisional hospital at Dharamgarh is also functioning without surgical, anaesthesia and pathology specialists. The scenario in the interiors too is precarious. Though 14 new primary health centres have been set up, doctors have not been posted.

Besides, the only doctor in Bengaon new PHC is reportedly on unauthorised leave, sources in the district health office said. Incidentally, these interior health institutions are managed by a single doctor and things worsen, when he goes on leave.

Besides doctors, the posts of 26 multipurpose health workers (male), 23 multipurpose health supervisors (male) and 10 multipurpose health supervisors (female) are vacant.

Chief District Medical Officer Dr.Srinivas Naik said the Government had been apprised of the vacancies but no action has yet been taken. Dr. Srinivas is posted as in-charge CDMO.

Now, National Rural Health Mission through Orissa State Health and Family Welfare Society has taken up the task to upgrade 13 block-level primary health institutions in Kalahandi district as per the Indian Public Health Standards.

Accordingly, it's programmed to set up a 30-bed indoor ward, upgrade the operation theatre and labour room and newborn corners in each of the 13 block-level health institutions.

It decided to spend Rs 50 lakh in each block and the first instalment of Rs 20 lakh was released to eight blocks.

But as the first instalment could not be utilised, the rest of the amount was returned by NRHM during March last week to the State Health and Family Welfare Society which will now implement the works through other agencies.