No programme officers, specialists in Fazilka, health services hit

Strap: Civil surgeon, who joined a week ago, transferred to Chandigarh Our Correspondent

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Fazilka, August 20

With the transfer of Dr NK Aggarwal, Civil Surgeon, Fazilka, to Chandigarh on Wednesday, the post of the civil surgeon has again fallen vacant in the district. Dr Aggarwal had joined about a week ago, on August 12, after the post remained vacant for many months.

He has been shifted as Deputy Director, Internal Administration, in the office of Director, Health and Family Welfare, Chandigarh. He shall also been given additional charge of Isolation Facility at Gian Sagar Hospital, Banur. Intriguingly, he shall keep claiming salary against the post of civil surgeon, Fazilka.

The civil surgeon has been transferred, despite the fact that almost all posts of programme officers at the civil surgeon’s office here have been lying vacant, adversely affecting the health services in the border district during Covid pandemic.

Dr Chander Mohan Kataria, assistant civil surgeon, has been asked to take additional charge as civil surgeon.

The post of deputy medical commissioner, district health officer, district immunisation officer, district family planning officer, district epidemiologist and district tuberculosis officer have been lying vacant since long.

The district epidemiologist is responsible for spreading awareness among residents on how to prevent Covid-19.

Besides, specialist doctors are also not available in the district hospital while the only specialist doctor has proceeded on leave.

The dialysis unit in the district hospital has been lying shut since long, for want of doctor, as a result of which the patients are compelled to take costly treatment from private hospitals in the adjoining Sriganganagar town.