PHC in Palampur town faces govt apathy

Box—Healthcare goes for a toss

*Of 32 sanctioned posts of doctors and health workers, only 16 filled.

*Has provision for 30 beds but only six available

*Building in shambles and no x-ray technician present

Ravinder Sood

PALAMPUR, October 8

Residents of a small town, Khaira, 25 km from here, have lodged a protest over the poor health services in the 30-bed Primary Health Centre (PHC) situated in changer area, which looks after the medical needs of over 50,000 patients.

Despite spending crores of rupees on this health institution, the services here are far from satisfactory. It seems that there is none in the state Health Department to take care of this important PHC.

Though the state government had created 32 posts of doctors and health workers in this hospital, only 16 posts have been filled while others, including that of a doctor, are still vacant. While on papers this institution has 30 beds, at present there is a provision for only six beds while there is no infrastructure to admit the 24 remaining patients.

The building of the hospital too needs immediate repairs. Though there is a X-ray machine at the institute, it is lying idle due to the absence of a technician.

Khaira residents said there was no provision for emergencies. Even simple deliveries were not conducted at the hospital. In such cases, residents were directed by the doctors on duty to either go to Medical College Tanda or civil hospital Palampur.

Though over 150 patients visit the hospital daily for treatment of various ailments, serious cases are seldom treated here. Many a times, the patient dies on the way for want of medical care. Likewise, most of the accident cases are also not attended to at the hospital and were referred either to Tanda hospital or outside the state, they alleged.

Dr Meenakshi, Block Medical Officer (BMO), Bhawarna, said the government was well versed with the problems being faced by the patients at Khaira hospital. She had requested the government to fill up of all vacant posts.

Caption:- Primary Health Centre, Khaira. Photo by writer