Mother-child section at Kullu hospital awaits doctors

KULLU, FEBruary 29

Though the maternal and child health (MCH) section of the Regional Hospital Kullu, constructed at a cost of Rs 12.95 crore, was inaugurated by then Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on June 18, 2022, doctors and paramedic staff for the new facility have still not been notified.

As many as 72 posts, which include six specialists, were allocated for the unit that runs two gynae OPDs and two paediatric OPDs. The 100-bed facility is currently operating with the existing staff of the Regional Hospital.

During his visit here in June last year, Health and Family Welfare Minister Colonel Dr Dhaniram Shandil had said doctors and paramedical staff would be posted in the MCH section of the Regional Hospital soon. However, the government is yet to issue a notification mentioning the increase in staff after the addition of the new facility.

Area residents alleg that the BJP government inaugurated the MCH section in haste as the Assembly elections were approaching, but showed no interest in filling the posts later. They added that even the Congress government has not been able to get going on filling these posts.

The management of the Regional Hospital had sent a demand letter to the Director of the Health Department on June 23, 2022, to fill the vacant posts filled, but the financial approval remained pending.

According to information, 72 posts have been allocated for the MCH section — two gynaecologists, two paediatrician, one anaesthetist, one radiologist, eight medical officers, one matron, four ward mister, 20 staff nurses, 3 senior lab technician, one radiographer, two OTA, one assistant, two clerks, three pharmacists, two drivers, one watchman, 11 Class IV employees and 7 sanitation workers.

The Regional Hospital, which has 300 beds, provides health facilities to three districts, including Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti.

Usually, across various wards of the hospital, more patients than the capacity are getting treated.

Treatment is also done in the galleries when the number of patients surges.

Area residents said the staff in the MCH section should be appointed on priority to ensure that the patients are provided the best possible facilities. They demanded that considering the increasing number of patients in the hospital, additional arrangements must be made and the bedding capacity of the hospital be increased.