Nayagarh: Shortage of physicians in hospitals of this district has come to such a pass that pharmacists have now started prescribing medicines to patients.
A case in point is the Darpanarayanpur Primary Health Centre (New) under Ranpur block where a pharmacist prescribes drugs and gives consultancy to at least 150 patients a day.
The fate of thousands of patients of this PHC, established in 1956, now rests in the hands of the pharmacist. The centre is functioning without a doctor for the last seven years.
Similarly, an Ayush doctor has been working as the medical officer in-charge of the PHC in the absence of an MBBS doctor. Nearly 30,000 people of Kendudhipa, Notar, Shankhei panchayats under Nayagarh block and Darpanarayanpur, Baunsagarh, Khadia, Rankadeuli, Surakabadi, Bajrakote panchayats of Ranpur block depend upon this PHC. Despite this, the delay in appointment of a doctor raises question over the efficiency of the health department.
Though the construction of a new building of the PHC has been completed, it is yet to be commissioned due to water and electricity problems. The patients consult the pharmacist in a small room. Two other small rooms are used for treatment of sunstroke and delivery patients.
Though several letters have been sent for appointment of a doctor, it has not yielded any result so far, said pharmacist Dilip Kumar Swain.
According to reports, healthcare service in the district has been severely hit due to doctors’ shortage. While the patients are no more relying on the district headquarters hospital due to shortage of doctors, the condition of the PHCs and CHCs is worse. There are 12 CHCs and 37 PHCs in the district.
Of the 159 posts of doctors in the district, 91 are lying vacant. People of 10 panchayats would hit the streets if the posts of doctors in Darpanarayanpur PHC are not filled up soon, threatened the locals.
PNN