4 months on, Nayagaon centre without doctor

The Urban Primary Healthcare centre at Nayagaon has been operating without a full-time doctor since October last year, depriving the residents of the area and surrounding villages of proper basic healthcare.

A staff nurse, Jaspal Kaur, is managing the health centre on her own, attending to 35-40 patients every day. These patients, many of whom come from poor families, rely on the centre for their basic medical needs. The centre has no lab technician, while the most basic equipment, such as a blood pressure-monitoring machine, is non-functional.

Pregnant women, who visit the centre for routine check-ups, are only given supplements such as iron and calcium tablets. They are unable to get comprehensive care due to the absence of a doctor. Patients with viral infections, fever or sore throat are not thoroughly examined and are given medication based solely on their reported symptoms.

Anita, one of the patients, shared: “Whenever I am sick, we come here. But for the past few months, there’s no doctor. So we are given medicine without a proper diagnosis. We just tell our symptoms, and accordingly, are given a dosage. At times, the fever lasts longer than it used to be.”

Despite so many difficulties, Jaspal Kaur goes above and beyond to keep the centre functioning. She also manages an Outpatient Opioid Assisted Treatment (OOAT) programme at the centre. Around 15 patients turn up daily to receive treatment for drug addiction. She is often forced to work on holidays and weekends to ensure that no patient goes without their prescribed medication.

“I came to know that soon, someone will take charge,” said Jaspal Kaur, expressing hope for an early solution to the problem of staff shortage.

Sangeeta Jain, Civil Surgeon of Mohali, said: “We have informed the State Government about the requirement of a doctor in Nayagaon. Soon, there will be an appointment. Everything is under process.”

These centres have been set up with the aim of providing a wide range of primary healthcare services, including maternal and child health services, immunisation, non-communicable disease management and basic emergency care. The staff shortage at the Nayagaon centre highlights the challenges in ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all, especially the urban poor, who rely on these centres as their primary point of contact for healthcare.