Nurpur Civil Hospital faces shortage of specialist docs

Patients forced to approach private hospitals

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Rajiv Mahajan

Nurpur, November 5

Several posts of radiologist, physician, ophthalmologist and gynaecologist are lying vacant in the 200-bed Civil Hospital here for a long time.

The hospital caters to patients from Nurpur, Indora, Jawali, and Fatehpur subdivisions in lower Kangra district and Bhatiyat in neighbouring Chamba district. In the absence of specialist doctors, the patients have to travel to Pathankot or take treatment at local private hospitals.

Interestingly, the hospital has three surgeons against one sanctioned post. The Health Department had posted some specialists to the Civil Hospital in the past few months but they managed to either get the orders cancelled or get themselves adjusted in other government hospitals.

Dr Sushil Sharma, Medical Superintendent, says that the hospital has 34 sanctioned posts of medical officer, including specialists, but there are only 19 of them at present. He adds that the Health Department has made temporary arrangements of a radiologist on deputation, who visits the hospital twice a week, and a physician. He admits that a physician and a gynaecologist are urgently needed in the hospital and he has brought the issue to the notice of the higher authorities.

In the absence of a gynaecologist, expectant mothers, who are assured of free clinical tests and safe institutional deliveries in government hospitals under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, are the worst sufferers.

The hospital had once taken the lead in conducting institutional deliveries but now expectant mothers are dependent on nearby private hospitals or private nursing homes at Pathankot.