| Ailing health sector, 198 PHCs running only on papers since 2010 | | | Bijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 11: Contrary to the tall claims of former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to upgraded 198 Primary Health Centre (PHC) on the basis of Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) and claims that all the PHCs would function round the clock, PHC Sei in R S Pura block is working for just a few hours each working day and faces acute dearth of staff and infrastructure.
Sources informed Early Times that around four years back, PHC Sei of RS Pura block was upgraded to work round the clock on the basis of IPHS norms in documents, but at ground the PHC that fights acute shortage of man power, drugs and infrastructure works for just a few hours that too on week days only.
Owing to shortage of medical and paramedical staff, health institutions were running with two doctors, a dentist and two nurses and a Pharmacists. "However, IPHS norms say, a PHC running round the clock should have four Assistant Surgeon, a Dental Surgeon, four Staff Nurses, one Pharmacists, one Female health worker, one Health Educator with two Health Assistant Male/ Female and class IV workers ", sources said.
"State government failed to augment the staff strength of such health institution, four years after it upgraded such institution merely on papers", Sources said, adding that in PHC Sei, last few years not a single delivery has been conducted while on papers, it has been running round the clock , providing healthcare according to the norms of IPHS level.
Ram Kumar, a local said that PHC Sei has been catering to thousands of people who reside along International Border of Block RS Pura. The health institution located on IB needed to upgraded the facilities regarding staff quarters, medicines and emergency services round the clock with an appropriate management of injuries, first aid, stabilization of the condition of patient before referral and should have availability of Ambulance for emergency services but at present the health institution of Sei is running for few hours on working days.
When contacted Block Medical Officer Desh Raj Dogra said that as per routine the PHC remain opens till 8pm but in case of any emergency, doctors is called any time. |
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