Aska: The state government granted sub-divisional hospital status to the Aska community health centre (CHC) conceding a long-standing demand of locals, a report said.
A letter (25687, dated 13.10.2017) of the health and family welfare department granting sub-divisional hospital status to the CHC and five other hospitals in the state was received Wednesday.
This has spread cheer among the locals who believe healthcare facilities will improve in the hospital following the upgrade.
The hospital will now have two specialist doctors in medicine, paediatric, obstetrics and gynaecology, and surgery departments and two assistant surgeons in each of the departments as well as a hospital superintendent.
The new status will help in upgrading existing infrastructure and increase in number of beds.
The hospital was once a referral hospital and people of Aska block, Dharakote, Shergad, Kabisuryanagar, Gangpur and Balipadar depended on it for their healthcare needs.
The hospital having 60 beds was functioning with only two or three doctors over the last few years though six doctors were sanctioned. The doctor shortage remained a matter of concern for patients.
At present, the hospital is being managed by medicine, paediatric, obstetrics and gynecology specialists, an assistant surgeon and a dentist. Over 200 patients regularly visit the hospital while more than 40 patients are being treated in the indoor wards.
Besides, 300 to 400 pregnant women visit the hospital every month while post-mortem of 15 bodies is conducted per month.
Earlier, members of Aska Bar association and other outfits had staged a protest for over 50 days demanding upgrade of the hospital’s status.
Saroj Kumar Tripathy, president of the bar association, welcomed the government’s decision stating this will go a long way in resolving the healthcare problems of the residents.
Ramesh Chandra Panda, a trader, said infrastructure should be developed and required number of doctors and support staffers be appointed in the hospital.
A woman Chandrakala Pandia said specialist doctors should be appointed in each department to provide better healthcare service to patients. PNN