Nayagarh: Healthcare services in Nayagarh district headquarters hospital and many other primary health centres in the district are in shambles, thanks to non-appointment of doctors.
Despite repeated complaints and problems faced by patients, no one bothers to appoint doctors in the hospital and CHCs, alleged a local resident. Patients have to go through unwanted problems on a daily basis.
They are forced to travel distances to other hospitals and spend money. The situation is worse in Biridihi community health centre (CHC). Sources said two doctors have been appointed to the health centre at Biridihi, while one visits the centre occasionally.
”Two doctors have been posted here out of which only one visits the hospital. Most of the time I have to look after the patients,” said Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) of Biridihi PHC, Sumati Nayak.
As per reports, six panchayats with about 5000 patients who depend on the health centre suffer due to crunch of doctors.
”We travel long distances to come to this health centre. As there are no doctors, it is difficult for us to get proper treatment,” alleged patient Daitari Nayak.
As many as 2000 patients visit the district headquarters hospital on an average while there are 27 doctors against a sanctioned strength of 54 doctor posts.
When asked, Nayagarh CDMO Sweta Mohapatra said there is a district hospital, 12 health centres and 37 primary healthcare centres in the district. The district needs 192 doctors, but 110 posts are still lying vacant. This year, 24 doctors have been appointed through OPSC and 33 have been appointed on contractual basis.”
PNN