Staff crunch, poor infra ail ESI dispensary

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 18

The health services at the ESI Dispensary (No.3) at Focal Point, Phase V, Ludhiana, are getting affected due to shortage of staff and lack of infrastructure.

As the dispensary located in the industrial area, a large number of labourers having the ESI cards visit this dispensary to get treatment.

Out of four posts of doctors, two posts of doctors are lying vacant at dispensary wherein an average 600 patients visit daily. It is noticed that a huge rush is witnessed on every Monday. As many as 800 patients visit on this day.

The dispensary lacks required infrastructure as seating arrangement is available for only few patients while mostly patients are seen standing in queues outside a doctor’s room.

A patient on condition of anonymity said, “I am holding an ESI card under which free treatment is provided. I came here at around 10 am. It is afternoon now, and I am still waiting for my turn. I have been asked to come after 2pm as a dispensary staff member announced that it is lunch time from 1 pm to 2 pm.”

“As specialist doctors are unavailable here, many patients are referred to the ESIC Model Hospital, Bharat Nagar Chowk. If we have to visit hospital, we take leave from factory and amount is deducted from our salary for day off. The government should upgrade this dispensary and specialist doctors should be available here”, said another patient.

President of the Karkhana Mazdoor Union, Lakhwinder said, “The labourers generally complain us that they have to stand in long queues to get examined at the dispensary. There is an acute shortage of doctors. It has been seen that only one doctor is generally available here. All doctors should be available till 5:30 pm and dispensary should be upgraded.There is no facility for proper drinking water. The government should also deploy specialist doctors here.”

“The prescribed medicines should be available inside the dispensary. The doctor should also cross check the medicines that are provided to patients at pharmacy. The government should ensure seating arrangements for the patients. Besides this, facility of drinking water and toilets should be provided”, he added.

Some patients also complained the TLC test— test to count white blood cells—is not being conducted as well. There are two posts of Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) but one post is vacant. Besides, some posts of class IV, clerical staff and sweepers are lying vacant.

A staff member at dispensary revealed that one doctor is available at morning shift from 9 am to 3 pm and other doctor examines patients from 11 am to 5 pm (evening shift).

The Senior Medical Officer at ESI dispensary, Dr Inderjit Kaur said, “Post of two doctors is vacant. We also required an ANM, sweeper and class four employees. We have written in this regard to the higher authorities.”

“An equipment at laboratory had met with fault and it has been sent for repair”, she added.