Sans staff, healthcare in doldrums in Kaithal

Satish Seth

The district-level referral hospital in Kaithal was designated as 200-bed hospital years ago, but despite that, the strength of doctors, lab technicians and paramedical staff is insufficient to cater to a large number of patients visiting every day.

There is no ultrasound facility and no radiologist for the last couple of years in the hospital and patients have to cough out a higher amount by making rounds of private hospitals, miles away in the main town.

There is only one orthopedic surgeon, who treats hundreds of patients and conducts operations too.

The Congress ruled the state for over 10 years, followed by the five-year BJP rule, but despite change in political dispensation, staff shortage continues to affect the functioning of the hospital adversely.

On a number of occasions, patients have been made to wait for hours, when doctors were on leave or postmortem duty or attending courts in MLR cases. At times, when the diagnosis of patients in the OPD was to be conducted by experts or MDs or MS doctors, MBBS doctors (medical officers) were seen treating patients, while they needed special care. Strangely, most of the patients are referred to PGIs or other big hospitals, as no expert is available in the district-level hospital, what to talk of CHCs and PHCs in villages catering to the needs of thousands of patients in rural areas of the district for treating serious ailments and surgeries.

There are 55 sanctioned posts of doctor in the Kaithal Civil Hospital, against which 25 posts have been filled, but eight remain absent from duty, thus leaving 17 doctors to treat thousands of patients.

Interestingly, of these 17, when some remain on leave or have to appear in courts or go to attend medical camps, conduct postmortem or attend official meetings, the condition of patients visiting the hospital can be well-imagined.

The OPD is full on all working days and with the shortage of doctors, patients have to wait for hours. The situation in Community Health Centres (CHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs) is no different and the rural population remains deprived of good medical care.

Sub-divisional Hospital Guhla with five PHCs attached under it are also facing shortage of doctors. These are at Bhagal, Kharkan, Kangthli, Arnoliand and Agondh. Against the sanctioned strength of 17 doctors, 10 posts have been filled, of which seven are vacant.

In CHC Kalayat, of seven sanctioned posts, four are vacant. In three attached PHCs of Balu, Batta and Deoban of six sanctioned posts, only three have been filled.

In Siwan CHC, five posts of doctor are sanctioned, of which four have been filled, but two doctors are doing their PG course and one still remains vacant. Thus, only two doctors are left to treat a large number of patients

In Pundri CHC, six posts of doctor are sanctioned. Of these, three remain vacant and in three PHCs attached to it Mundri has no doctor, whereas in Habri village and Pai, two are filled, while two remain vacant.

At CHC Rajound, of seven posts, only one is filled and six remain vacant.

In PHC Kithana, of two posts, only one was filled and the only doctor resigned, as per information.

At CHC Kaul, of seven sanctioned strength, only one post was filled. In Rasina, Dhand Teek, Pharal PHCs against eight posts, three were filled, while five remain vacant.

Civil Surgeon Dr SK Nain said the shortage of doctors was in the knowledge of the government. However, despite shortage, the dedicated doctors and paramedical staff continue to provide best services to a large number of patients in the OPD and indoor wards and over 200 beds remain occupied and free medicines are provided to patients. A total of Rs35 lakh have been sanctioned for an ultrasound machine in Kaithal. Pregnant women get ultrasound done from empanelled private ultra sound centres at subsidised rate of Rs250. He said no TB patient detected was left without proper treatment. No dengue or malaria case has been detected in the last two years, as larva in thousands of houses detected through a network of Yuva Saksham volunteers were destroyed in time.

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