Zonal hospital paralysed due to docs’ shortage : Kapoor

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 25

Former minister and senior BJP leader Kishan Kapoor today flayed the state government for poor conditions prevalent at the zonal hospital here. Kapoor alleged that there was acute shortage of doctors as a result of which it had been reduced to just a referral hospital. He said this while addressing a press conference here today

Giving statistics to make his point Kapoor alleged that in medicine department there were six sanctioned posts of MD doctor. However, just one medicine specialist was posted at the hospital and he also was on leave. In surgery department there was just one doctor against three vacancies. In gynaecology department there was one doctor against three sanctioned posts who also was generally on camp duties. There was no one to attend to gynaecology patients on regular basis, Kapoor alleged.

He further alleged that there was just one paediatrician against three sanctioned posts and no skin specialist was available despite the fact that there were two sanctioned posts. Two ENT doctors serve in emergency due to shortage of doctors and their OPD mostly remained closed. There was just one orthopaedic surgeon, who is generally busy on government duties or away for medico legal cases and operation theatre remained closed.

The former minister alleged that 11 doctors were transferred in the recent past. This had adversely affected the working of the hospital. Most of patients coming to the hospital were being referred to Tanda medical college, Kapoor alleged.

Kapoor also alleged that medicines worth crores were being purchased for hospitals and dispensaries in Kangra district despite the fact that there were no doctors to recommend them. The result was that the public money spent to purchase medicines was going waste. The medicines were expiring in godowns of the health department, he said.

Kapoor said that the Chief Minister had announced that Dharamsala was now officially the second capital of the state but the condition of basic health services in this city illustrate that the announcement was hollow.

The BJP leader said the government had announced several new health institutions in Kangra district beside the upgrade of the existing hospitals. However, this was being done without recruiting new doctors and the health facilities were worsening as a result.

Dismal scenario

• The BJP leader alleged that medicine department had six posts of MD doctors, while only one was posted at the hospital
• In surgery department there was just one doctor against three vacancies
• In gynaecology department one doctor was working against three sanctioned posts who also generally remained on camp duties
• There was just one paediatrician against three sanctioned posts, while no skin specialist was there despite two sanctioned posts

.