Doctor posts lying vacant

Monday November 5 2007 09:28 IST ENS
BALIGUDA: Healthcare service is ailing in predominantly tribal Kandhamala district due to shortage of medics and paramedics. According to a survey report of Kandhamala Health Department, there 150 sanctioned doctor posts for the chief district medical at Phulabani, one sub-divisional hospital at Baliguda, 13 primary health centres, 34 new primary health centres and five government hospitals in different locations. But right now only 101 doctors are working in these hospitals.

Absent of doctors are noticed irrespective of hierarchy. Out of six class-I medical officer posts, three posts are lying vacant, in senior class specialist category two posts are lying vacant out of four. Out of nine junior class-I posts, four posts are lying vacant.

In junior class-I specialist category only five posts have been filled against 11 posts. Similarly in class-II specialist category, out of 29 posts, 13 posts are lying vacant and in assistant surgeon category out of 91 posts, 25 are remaining vacant. In chief district medical a number of senior medical officer and specialist posts are lying vacant.

Even certain departments like eye, anaesthesia, surgery, radiology are having no specialist. Condition of health centres in remote places is deploring. In certain places hospitals are run by pharmacists only. Patients are forced to depend on quacks and black magicians for treatments which sometimes proves fatal.

Health centres in Badagada, Mardipanga, Nuapadara, Bilabadi, Panga, Lankagada and Judabadi are run by pharmacists.

Even the doctors present are not reportedly regular in their duties and more interested in private practices, alleged the locals. Shortage of assisting staff like staff nurse, health assistant, junior radiographer, laboratory technician has added to the woes.

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