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Shortage of doctors ails Karnal govt hospitals

A shortage of doctors has crippled health care services in Karnal district.

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Parveen Arora

A shortage of doctors has crippled health care services in Karnal district. The paucity of medicos in government-run hospitals is forcing patients to go to private hospitals for treatment. 

The doctor-patient ratio in Karnal is around 1:6,000 against 1:1,000 recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO), says sources in the Health Department. 

The Health Department data depict a poor state of health services in the district, particularly in rural areas. Emergency patients are having a harrowing time, as they are not getting immediate attention.

There is one district-level Civil Hospital, one medical college, namely Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital (KCGMCH), two sub-divisional hospitals in Assandh and Nilokheri, five Community Health Centres (CHCs), 20 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), one polyclinic and six Urban Primary Health Centres in the city, which cater to around 10,000 patients on a daily basis.

Against 332 sanctioned posts, 249 doctors are giving their services in these hospitals. Some of them are also performing non-clinical duties, the data show.

According to the norms, at least six doctors, including four specialists, should be posted in each CHC, while every PHC should have three doctors, including one dental surgeon. In the absence of doctors, most of the district hospitals have become referral centres. The Civil Hospital and the KCGMCH witness a heavy rush of patients and they are finding it very hard to provide good health care services to all patients.

Interestingly, the district does not have a regular Civil Surgeon, while two posts of Deputy Civil Surgeon and four posts of Senior Medical Officer are yet to be filled. 

The data show six PHCs at Popra, Uplana, Salwan, Gagsina, Madhuban and Karnal are running without regular doctors, affecting patient care, while four PHCs at Nigdhu, Sagga, Salwan and Khukhni are without dentists. 

The Assandh sub-divisional hospital is facing a shortage of six doctors, while the community health centre at Taraori has a shortage of three doctors. The community health centres at Gharaunda and Indri are facing a shortage of four doctors each.

The sources claim that the shortage of doctors in rural areas is severe as they do not want to serve in villages though they are given several benefits. Rajesh Kumar, a resident, says that doctors should be posted in rural hospitals where the patient load is greater.

The sources say the authorities can hire specific doctors on an ad hoc or contractual basis, but nobody bothers. Many doctors, after completing their MBBS, opt for higher studies or prefer joining private health care facilities at a higher salary.

The situation in the Civil Hospital, which was restarted last year after a long struggle by residents for around five years, is also not good; it is also facing a shortage of around 50 % doctors. Only 24 doctors against 48 sanctioned posts are giving their services in the hospital. It does not have even a full-time surgeon, and a psychiatrist. Besides, the shortage of gynaecologists, physicians, anaesthetists, pathologists, radiologists and other doctors is adversely affecting medical services in the district. One post each of radiographer and lab technician, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, and psychiatric social worker is vacant in the Civil Hospital.

“I went to the Civil Hospital thrice last month, but in the absence of the surgeon, I had to go to a private hospital for a minor surgery,” says Krishan Kumar, a patient.

Dr Piyush Sharma, Principal Medical Officer, says that the shortage of doctors is badly affecting health services in the Civil Hospital and they have apprised the higher authorities of the need to fill vacant posts.

The data state there is also a shortage of paramedical staff, as 36 of 163 posts of staff nurse are lying vacant in various government-run hospitals while 11 of 20 posts of nursing sister in the Civil Hospital are yet to be filled. Besides, 17 of 48 posts of chief pharmacist and pharmacist are vacant in various government-run hospitals. 

Dr Rajinder Kumar, officiating Civil Surgeon, says that there is no doubt the shortage of doctors in various hospitals has affected their functioning. “If we have more doctors, better services can be provided,” he adds. 

Dr Surinder Kashyap, Director, KCGMCH, claims that they are providing OPD services to around 3,000 every day. Recruitment is an ongoing process. 

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