Upgraded last year, PHC still functioning as health sub-centre

Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, September 16

At Rinna village in Nagni gram panchayat, the primary health centre (PHC) that was upgraded last year is still being run as a health sub-centre. 

On June 14, 2017, the previous Virbhadra Singh government, in its Cabinet meeting, had upgraded the health sub-centre to a PHC. On July 4, the health and family welfare department created and sanctioned three posts — medical officer, pharmacist and Class IV employee — to run the PHC, but the successive governments have failed to appoint the staff. On October 10, the then local MLA had inaugurated the PHC.

Pertinently, the PHC was inaugurated just a month before the Assembly elections, even when there was no building, infrastructure or staff. Now, a lot of resentment is brewing among the locals who were promised a PHC. 

However, the existing health sub-centre is being run from a dilapidated building, which was declared unsafe two years ago. A health supervisor, male and female health workers and a trained midwife are posted at the health sub-centre. Its new building is under construction. 

Moreover, the health and family welfare department had already installed new PHC signboards on the building and on the road leading to the centre. 

Nagni gram panchayat former pradhan Kulwinder Singh and former up-pradhan Krishan Singh said the inauguration of the PHC at Rinna village was just an election gimmick to fool the residents. They appealed to the state government to make the sanctioned PHC functional as it would benefit around 10,000 residents of Nagni, Bhadwar, Khazian and Jonta gram panchayats.

When contacted, Kangra Chief Medical Officer RS Rana said all new health institutions opened in the state during the previous Virbhadra Singh government were being reviewed by the present state government. 

Inauguration just  a poll gimmick?

• Nagni gram panchayat former pradhan Kulwinder Singh and former up-pradhan Krishan Singh said the inauguration of the PHC at Rinna village was just an election gimmick to fool the residents.
• They appealed to the state government to make the sanctioned PHC functional as it would benefit around 10,000 residents of Nagni, Bhadwar, Khazian and Jonta gram panchayats