Ganjam: Scarcity of doctors and lack of infrastructure have affected health-care at the oldest primary health centre here in Ganjam district.
Sources said, the residents of Ganjam block, Krushnaprasadgad and Marud of Puri district depend upon this PHC. On an average more than 100 patients including 10 to 15 pregnant women visit the hospital everyday.
Posts of doctors and senior doctors are lying vacant at the hospital for a long time affecting the health service. Shortage of physicians has come to such a pass that pharmacists are compelled to prescribe medicines to patients.
After the transfer of the only doctor Dr Dibya Maharan to another PHC, there are no doctors at the hospital.
After the death of senior helper, Padmacharn Panda, in 2010 no helper has been appointed in his place. The post of a senior supervisor is lying vacant since 2015 after the death of Kadmbin Bhuina here.
Locals alleged that a male attendant, Narsingh Mishra, is working in Khandadeuli PHC though his salary is credited by Ganjam PHC.
Due to lack of adequate infrastructure and availability of beds, patients including pregnant women are forced to sleep on the floor and when they complain about the lacunae they are referred to other hospitals.
Finding no other go patients are going to private hospitals at Chhatrapur and Berhampur, where they have to bear exorbitant costs.
The hospital needs a woman attendant to take care of pregnant women at the hospital. But the post has been vacant for a long time.
When contacted, medical officer Sudhakar Dash said that they will fill the vacant posts within 10 days.