Early Times Report
Rajouri, June 15: For 275 health centres in the district, the government has sanctioned 238 posts of doctors, which means less than one doctor per centre. And, the government's non-seriousness towards providing better medicare facilities to the people here can be further gauged from the fact that of the 238 posts, 153 are lying vacant.
In Sunderbani Health Block, out of sanctioned 40 posts of consultants/ doctors, 29 are lying vacant. Though sub-district hospital (SDH), Sunderbani, is situated on the highly accident-prone Jammu-Poonch road, it has only an orthopaedic consultant while remaining 15 posts of consultant doctors were lying vacant, official sources said.
According to BMO, Dr Gobind Sharma , Dr M Uppal was working against the consultant doctor's post.
"What would be the health condition of the people of Sunderbani Block where out of 40 sanctioned posts of consultants/doctors, 29 are lying vacant?" sources asked.
"Since no anaesthetist is appointed in this hospital, no surgery can be done and almost all the patients/accident victims are referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Jammu. Some of them breath their last on the way," sources said.
"In the absence of consultant doctors, we face difficulties in case of any medical emergency and we have to refer the patients/accident victims to GMCH, Jammu. The consultant 0rthopedician, four Medical Officers (MOs) and myself are looking after the affairs of this SDH," the BMO said.
Besides SDH, Sunderbani, the health block has three PHCs at Balshama, Uppar Hathal and Siot.
Two posts of MOs are sanctioned each for these PHCs but for the last many years, all the 6 posts of are lying vacant and pharmacists and dental surgeons (at Balshama & Uppar Hathal) are looking after the health of people living in these areas.
In Sunderbani health block, 10 posts of MOs have been created under National Health Mission to provide medical help to the people in the absence of regular doctors but 5 posts are lying vacant under this arrangement too.
"In case of any medical emergency including accidents on the highway, only first aid can be provided at this SDH and many of the patients, who are referred to GMCH, Jammu, die on the way," said Y R Sharma, a local. |
