Odiaha: Shortage of doctors in Kalahandi district

Orissadiary, Dec 11, 2013
Report by Debadatta Panda, Kalahandi: There is a shortage of doctors inKalahandi district. Against the sanctioned strength of 175, mostly 60 in primary health centres (PHCs), are vacant. Even the 165-bed Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital has only 19 doctors, said chief district medical officer Surendra Mohapatra. He said a few doctors are unauthorized absentees, some are pursuing post-graduate studies and a few are on leave. Mohapatra said 40 posts of nurses, 17 auxiliary nurse Midwife (ANMs) and 20 sweepers and attendants are also vacant in the hospital. "Due to staff shortage, doctors have to do night duty continuously for seven days. We need sufficient number of doctors and other staff to run the hospital," he said. Official sources said though the state government declared there should be one gynaecologist in each block of the district, only five are engaged in 13 blocks. Out of 5, three are working in Bhawanipatna district headquarters hospital that receives at least 600 cases a month. One gynaecologist is posted at Dharmagarh and another at Kesinga.  Mohapatra said Jaiptana, Madanpur-Rampur and Junagarh blocks need one gynaecologist each, adding that posting of gynaecologists in the remote Thuamul-Rampur and Lanjigarh blocks will arrest the infant mortality rate.Demanding the gyenaecologist post to be filled up at the CHC Junagarh the Nagarika Adhikar Surakshya Manch and Junagarh Sambadika Sangha had filed application before the Collector Kalahandi in his grievance cell and basing on that it is known that the dist. Administration has written letter to the Govt regarding this to fill up the post immediately. One of the reasons for vacancies is that doctors and other staff are not keen to serve in remote areas. Recently, an ANM resigned in Trilochanpur village of Lanjigarh block when we asked her to stay there. We need roads, power supply and cellphone connectivity to convince people to work in interior areas," said Mohapatra. Kalahandi collector  said we have appraised the state government about the staff shortage in the district hospital. - See more at: http://www.orissadiary.com/CurrentNews.asp?id=46283#sthash.k1fVrlMq.dpuf