Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, July 18: While the costly radio diagnostic machines provided to District Hospital, Rajouri is gathering dust for the last many months for want of a trained Radiologist, not only DH Rajouri but Sub District hospitals Darhal and Kalakote are also facing severe shortage of doctors and other trained para-medical staff.
Despite tall claims of the Government to provide better healthcare facilities, the condition of hospitals in this district is not good. District hospital Rajouri also cater to the rush of patients from Poonch and other Sub district hospitals of the district but due to shortage of staff, several radio diagnostic machines like CT scan and Ultra Sound machines are of no use. There are two sanctioned posts of Radiologists ( junior and senior) , but not even single one is in place. There are severe shortage of other specialists doctors. Out of the three posts of Physicians sanctioned, only one is posted while two posts are lying vacant.
Though new building of this 250-beded hospital has been constructed in Rajouri but the institute lacks many. There is always heavy rush of patients in this hospital which cater to the needs of over six lakhs of population, but due to lack of sufficient number of doctors, the public is badly suffering. Apart from this, five posts of Medical Officers/ Assistant Surgeons are lying vacant. Two posts of Anesthetics have also remained vacant. Out of the total sanctioned strength, the hospital is functioning with the staff of hardly 40 per cent.
Again, Sub District Hospital Darhal is facing acute shortage of doctors. Out of the sanctioned strength of 16, only two doctors are running this hospital. Even Block Medical Hospital Officer himself has to manage the OPD or even the Emergency. The new hospital building at Darhal was constructed recently but there is no compound wall and it has become free for all, including animals to the hospital wards.
BMO, Dr Iqbal Malik when contacted said that over 85 % posts of doctors are lying vacant. No lady doctor was available to handle delivery cases and no surgeon, physician or dental surgeon was available. One doctor under NRHM and two others have been in place and they are managing the affairs including OPD. He claimed that being local he himself is attending the OPD and even the emergency.
There are eight posts of Assistant Surgeons which are needed to be filled up besides other specialists. There is no fell fledged dental unit and doctor available. There are 23 health sub centers and two PHCs. At Lah PHC only one doctor is available. It is 30 bedded hospital but there is no compound wall and hospital land is facing threat of encroachment. Boundary wall is must to restrict the movement of animals and stray dogs inside the complex, he added.
Kalakote hospital also having bedded strength of 20 is facing the same situation. Against the sanctioned strength of 15, hardly two doctors are available including BMO Dr Suresh Gupta. One doctor is deputed from nearby Dalori PHC for running the affairs of the hospital. Seven posts of Assistant Surgeons and five specialists are lying vacant. One Dr Khalid has proceeded on higher studies recently and no doctor was placed there. Even the para- medical staff is not adequate. There is no lady doctor to handle the delivery cases in this hospital which is strong demand of the local public. Even the condition of CHC Taryath is not good. It also lacks adequate staff and ambulance. There are two doctors who visit the CHC by turn, the locals said. Old without number Maruti Van/ Ambulance has turned out of order.
Director Health Services Jammu, Dr B S Pathania when contacted admitted that no radiologist was available in Rajouri hospital to handle the radio diagnostic machines. He said not only Rajouri hospital, many other hospitals are facing shortage of doctors and other medical staff. He said nearly 200 new doctors have recently been appointed and they have started joining. The department is trying its best to provide some doctors at all the places to improve functioning. He said in Rajouri trained radiologist would be posted shortly and a proposal is being conceived to have online reporting of CT scans and Ultrasound at district level at Jammu Centre so that problem of this kind is over come. He assured that staff is also being provided to Darhal, Kalakote and even Thannamandi hospitals.
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