Digapahandi: Health services in this town have gone for a toss due to the alleged apathetic attitude of district health administration towards the local community health centre (CHC).
The CHC is struggling with shortage of doctors and paramedical staff. Being deprived of timely healthcare, people are forced to go to MKCG Medical College and Hospital or private hospitals.
The CHC, which was established in 1969 as a government primary health centre (PHC), was upgraded as a rural health centre (RHC) in 1975. Though the state government upgraded the RHC as an area hospital in 2004, it was demoted as CHC in 2015.
Only one doctor in place of five manages the CHC while some of the staff allegedly do not come here. The lack of doctors and paramedical staff has affected the treatment of expectant mothers. Other health-related programmes such as malaria eradication, Mamata Diwas and Janani Suraksha Yojana are not being implemented well.
It is common sight that the patients coming here are being referred to MKCG.
It was learnt that the health and family welfare department had directed the chief district medical officer to hand over the CHC to MKCG. As per the guidelines of the Union health ministry, it is mandatory to bring the rural CHCs under a medical college.
All formalities for handing over the CHC to MKCG are over. This will be done after vacant posts are filled up, informed Dr Manasi Panda, associate professor, rural health training centre, Digapahandi.
When contacted, Dr Saroj Kumar Mishra, CDMO, Ganjam, said vacant posts of doctors and paramedical staff will be filled up soon. Admitting that the CHC has one doctor, he said Dr Bijay Kumar Nayak from Bomkei CHC has been deputed here for two days a week.
Executive medical officer Dr Suprabha Sahu admitted that it has become a troublesome affair to provide health services to hundreds of patients coming to this hospital daily.
As there is no helping hand, she has applied for a transfer, Sahu said.
When contacted, Surya Narayan Patro, food supplies consumer welfare and cooperation minister, who is also the local MLA and president of Rogi Kalyan Samiti, said the vacant doctor posts will be filled up soon.
The state health directorate has already sanctioned the appointment of three specialists. As there were no doctor quarters, the same are under construction at a cost of Rs 60 lakhs. The hospital’s building has been repaired at Rs 80 lakhs, he said, adding, he has directed the procurement of new X-ray machines and other medical instruments. PNN
