| 77 posts of doctors sanctioned, only 17 filled so far | | Ailing healthcare in Reasi | | Bijay Charak
Jammu, July 8: The healthcare institutions in district Reasi are in shambles because of official apathy.
For example, 77 posts of doctors have been sanctioned for two Community Health Centres (CHCs) and 12 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), but at present only 17 doctors are on rolls.
The district has 12 PHCs in four blocks for which 51 doctor posts have been sanctioned but only seven posts have been filled so far.
The CHCs, which constitutes secondary level of healthcare, were designed to provide referral as well as specialist healthcare. But the condition of CHCs in Reasi is not very well as against the sanctioned strength of 26 doctors, only ten are present, forcing the local residents to travel several kilometers to reach district hospital Reasi or Government Medical College and Hospital Jammu even for the basic health care needs.
"Not a single health institution in Reasi district follows Indian Public Health Standard (IPHS) norms," the sources said. As per norms, a CHC should have sanctioned strength of eight Assistant Surgeons, a Dental Surgeon, five Specialists, 11 Nurses, and eight Pharmacists. But the norms fall flat in district Reasi, where only 26 doctors cater to the whole district.
Castigating state government, Ashok Kumar, a resident of Pouni, said the tall claims of the government regarding the upliftment of basic facilities in the rural areas were merely to mislead the people, while the ruling class was not bothered about the problems faced by common people.
"Most of the time the patients at the centres are asked to go to the district hospital at Reasi or Government Medical College Jammu," Ashok said. Chief Medical Officer Reasi said, "It's not in my hand to appoint doctors. I have time and again raised the matter with higher authorities."
Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. B S Pathania could not be contacted for comments despite repeated calls. |
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