Doctor vacancies add to woes

Expressbuzz, Sept 7, 2009

BHUBANESWAR: While several districts are under the grip of gastro- related diseases and Kalahandi already reporting cholera deaths, large-scale vacancies of doctors and paramedics have not only paralysed health institutions but adding more pressure to referral hospitals.

As most of the public health centres (PHCs) and community health centres (CHCs) are understaffed with doctors, even less critical patients reporting at these health institutions are referred either to district headquarters hospitals or the three medical colleges.

On an average around 2,000 persons report at the out patient departments (OPDs) of the SCB Medical College and Hospital daily. A majority of the patients are from rural areas. Similar is the condition of the other two medical colleges and hospitals at Berhampur and Burla.

The State Government has sanctioned 4,324 doctors and the official vacancy position is 965. But unofficial sources put the figure at more than 1,800. While about 100 in-service doctors are going on study leave every year, many doctors are on unauthorised leave. Even the Government is not sure about their whereabouts.

According to Health Department sources, the Naxal- affected districts are the worst hit on health service front.

In Kandhamal district, 57 doctor posts are lying vacant as against the sanctioned strength of 152. The vacancy position in Koraput is 66 as against sanctioned strength of 156. The situation in Malkangir and Nabarangpur is precarious with a vacancy of 37 and 40 doctors respectively. The sanctioned strength of doctors in the two districts is 89 and 98 posts respectively.

The vacancy position in Sundargarh district is 46 out of 196, 28 out of 68 in Gajapati, 28 out of 166 in Sambalpur, 40 out of 134 in Dhenkanal, nine out of 35 in Deogarh, 25 out of 126 in Jajpur, 43 out of 118 in Nayagarh, 25 out of 103 in Rayagada and 44 out of 281 in Mayurbhanj district.

The number of doctor posts lying vacant in other districts is Angul-29, Balasore-28, Bargarh-21, Bhadrak-26, Balangir-27, Boudh-8, Cuttack-33, Ganjam-62, Jagatsingpur-17, Jharsuguda-12, Kalahandi-50, Kendrapara-37, Keonjhar-55, Khurda-24, Puri-21, Sonepur-9 and Nuapada-18.

Shortly after joining office, Health and Family Welfare Minister Prasanna Acharya asked the department for the vacancy position and doctors on unauthorised leave. The Government is yet to initiate measures to trace the absentee doctors, most of whom are doing private practice.