Post News Network
Baripada, Oct 4: Healthcare in rural areas of tribal-dominated Mayurbhanj district has gone for a toss due to a shortage of medical staff. The situation does not show signs of improvement despite crores of rupees being pumped in through the National Health Mission.
In an example of how things have gone from bad to worse in even an urban area like Baripada, a pharmacist is doubling up as a doctor at the Baripada Municipality Hospital, with patients too willingly going to him for treatment for lack of an option.
The hospital itself is plagued by problems like lack of sanitation and infrastructure. However, authorities of the health department have consistently failed to sort out the problems facing the hospital.
The hospital was initially started as a dispensary at the office of the Baripada town planning unit at Murgabadi in 1992. It was later upgraded and renamed as Urban Primary Health Centre in 2015. However, there was no improvement in the state of affairs at the hospital, and currently it is being run by a pharmacist and two attendants.
Patients coming to the hospital are treated by pharmacist Pankaj Kumar Palei. Earlier, a retired doctor was engaged on a full-time basis but he has stopped coming for the last two years.
The hospital lacks necessary infrastructure like a laboratory, waiting room, and urinal despite being upgraded into a PHC. There is no provision for drinking water. The hospital runs out of a sole room, which is an outpatient ward of sorts where the pharmacist operates. “I face an uphill task on days when there are a lot of patients. There is very little space even for storing medicines,” the pharmacist said.
Two other attendants said the civic body used to provide `2,000 towards purchase of medicines for patients, but that has been stopped after free medicine supply was started under NHM since 2014.
Locals said civic authorities have not made any attempts for the development of the hospital.
When contacted, vice-chairperson of the municipality Jitendra Mohanty said steps will be taken for the PHC’s development and said the issue was taken up at the council meeting.
Executive officer of the civic body Somaresh Mohanty stated the PHC was included under NHM and its new building will be constructed soon.
