Urban health centre building remains underutilised for years

Sumeer Singh

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Tribune News Service

Bathinda, October 7

At a time when hospitals are battling infrastructural issues, as many as five spacious rooms at the urban primary health centre in Janta Nagar colony are lying un-utilised.

These five spacious rooms on the first floor of the health centre have not utilised for years now.

Plaster on walls has started peeling-off and even tiles are broken at some apots. Since there is no provision for the maintenance of these rooms, with the passage of time their condition has gradually deteriorated.

One of the doctors at the health centre, on condition of anonymity, said, “It is for the Health Department to decide. If they have invested crores of rupees to construct the spacious building of the health centre, they must ensure that adequate staff and medical equipment is provided here. The health centre caters to a population of over 40,000. These rooms can be utilised only if department officials hire more staff and provide more medical services at the centre.”

The outpatient department unit of the health centre witnesses an average inflow from 40 to 70 patients a day. There are three doctors and five ANMs for two different shifts at the centre.

Another employee from the centre said if not for providing medical services by expanding the staff here, then at least for now, these spacious rooms could be used as meeting hall, yoga room and store room.

Civil Surgeon Hari Narain Singh said, “There is a plan to convert the urban health centre at Janta Nagar into health and wellness centre and after that medical infrastructure and staff would be increased so that building can be utilised. The plan is under process and might take some time before it gets implemented.”