Karnal hospital sans gynaecologist, patients suffer
Parveen Arora
Karnal, August 3
With no regular gynecologist in the district Civil Hospital, pregnant women have been facing a tough time for over six months.
The hospital is managing with only two women medical officers and one gynaecologist, who has been appointed on deputation now for 14 days for now.
In absence of sufficient specialists, pregnant women have no option but to visit Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College (KCGMC) or private hospitals in the district.
As per the sources, only normal deliveries are being conducted at the Civil Hospital. For those who want to have a C-section, they are referred to other hospitals.
The data collected by The Tribune reveals that only six C-section deliveries were conducted in five months at the hospital, while the remaining were asked to visit other hospitals.
In the same duration, as many as 557 normal deliveries were conducted. This number is a lot less than that of last year.
The sources said there was a requirement of at least three gynaecologists and five women medical officers to cater to the needs of pregnant women of the district.
Against the requirement of three gynaecologists, no regular gynaecologist has been appointed, while against the requirement of five women medical officers, only two are working round the clock.
“I went to the Civil Hospital for the delivery of my wife. Hers was a C-section delivery, so she was referred to the KCGMC, which was already overburdened. I was forced to take my wife to a private hospital for the delivery,” said a man.
Meanwhile, two consultants of the gynaecology department at the hospital tested positive for Covid today. This has increased the burden on the existing staff of the department.
Due to the shortage of women medical officers, the expected women have to wait for their turn for hours in the OPD block. Besides, the existing women medical officers have to look into all medico-legal work of the cases, which overburdens the staff further.
Dr Piyush Sharma, Principal Medical Officer (PMO), said they had sent the requirement of gynaecologists and women medical officers to the higher authorities and the Civil Surgeon. “One gynecologist has been appointed and that too on deputation for only 14 days. We have been managing with the existing staff for over six months,” the PMO added.
Authorities informed
We have asked for the appointment of gynaecologists and women medical from the the Civil Surgeon. We have been managing with the existing staff for over six months. — Dr Piyush Sharma, PMO
