12 posts lying vacant since long, authorities unmoved
Ajay Raina
DODA, Sept 18: Acute shortage of staff at the Community Health Centre (CHC) Gandoh Bhalessa has badly impacted patient case but the authorities of the Health Department are completely unmoved.
As per sources, non-availability of specialist doctors at CHC Gandoh Bhalessa has hit the patient care as this health centre is supposed to meet the medical needs of over dozen villages.
“The CHC is facing shortage of doctors and paramedical staff since long and serious attention is being paid on this aspect by the Health Department despite numerous representations in this regard”, the residents said, adding that the patients are facing immense hardships due to lack of doctors at the CHC and they are being compelled to visit District Hospitals of Doda and Kishtwar and sometimes to hospitals in Jammu for seeking treatment.
Sources said that in this CHC there are around twelve prime posts, which are lying vacant since long, due to which people including the children and women suffer a lot, adding that despite being aware about the shortage of the staff, no steps have been taken by the concerned authorities to fill the vacancies and provide better medical care to the people.
According to the data available with the EXCELSIOR, the posts in the CHC Gandoh Bhalessa, which are lying vacant are of Consultant Surgeon, Consultant Anaesthesia, Consultant Gynae, Consultant Paediatrician, Consultant Physician, four Medical Officers, Two MBBS doctors, one SNCU MBBS Doctor, LHV, PMA, 4 Junior Staff Nurse, Head Pharmacist, Accounts Assistant, Non Medical Supervisor, Aya and JSN.
Sources said that the doctors, who were posted in the CHC Gandoh Bhalessa got themselves attached to their parent districts, adding that for a minor surgery, the attendants of the patients have to visit District Hospitals at Doda or Kishtwar and sometimes to hospitals in Jammu.
“Last month, my child fell down and received minor head injury. For getting him treated I had to take my child to Jammu. I spent around Rs 15,000 on that injury, which could have been avoided had there been adequate number of doctors and facilities available at CHC Gandoh Bhalessa”, a resident said, adding that poor people can’t afford treatment in other districts and Government should look into this matter seriously.
Patient influx has increased manifold and the concerned authorities are not bothered to make this CHC Gandoh fully functional, the residents said and appealed to the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to direct the concerned authorities to depute medical staff including surgeons at this CHC so that people heave sigh of relief.
When contacted Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Doda Dr Yaqoob Mir admitted that there is shortage of staff at CHC Gandoh Bhalessa. “Details regarding the vacant posts have already been sent to the higher authorities and hopefully the same will be filled shortly”, he added.
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