Govt ayurvedic hospital faces staff shortage

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, May 2

The Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Jammu, which has recently installed new units on the hospital premises, is facing staff shortage.

Various posts at different levels have been lying vacant here for the past many years, thereby affecting treatment of patients who continue to be at the receiving end.

Sources said there is staff strength of around 45 at present, including doctors, in the only ayurvedic hospital of the state. They added that posts of B-Grade doctors had not been created which had resulted in additional burden on the existing staff. The hospital registers an OPD of around 150 patients on a daily basis.

“The hospital has an OPD block, Kshar Sutra, yoga, MCH, X-ray and ECG units and a pathological laboratory. A panchkarma unit and surgical unit were recently launched in the hospital but there is not enough staff to run it properly,” said a source. Sources claimed that no serious effort was taken by the Directorate General, Indian Systems of Medicine, AYUSH, to strengthen the staff in the hospital.

The inclination of people towards ayurvedic treatment has increased over the past few years in the winter capital but the prevailing scenario due to insufficient staff has been a cause of concern for the visiting patients.

“I brought my mother here for panchkarma treatment, but due to non-availability of expert, the treatment has been delayed. The government should take serious measures to strength the staff because it is the only ayurvedic hospital in the state,” said Sushil, a local. Meanwhile, a senior doctor of the hospital admitted that there was shortage of staff at the hospital. “Yes, we are facing staff shortage, but till the posts are filled, we are trying our best to run the affairs in a smooth manner,” he said.

The 25-bedded Government Ayurvedic Hospital, Jammu, was established along with the Government Ayurvedic College, Jammu. Though the college was closed in 1981, the hospital continues to function near the Indira Chowk, Jammu.