Chamba hospital cries for docs

Our Correspondent

Chamba, January 5

The Regional Hospital, Chamba, is providing health services to the population of over 5 lakh. This is the only hospital in the district where specialised services are being provided. It is a hilly and accident-prone area.

The indoor occupancy is more than 100 per cent. The sanctioned strength of medical officers at the hospital has been 22 for the past about three decades. Now, the strength of patients had increased manifold and the number of patients visiting OPDs is 600 per day. The posts of eye surgeon, radiologist and senior radiographer are lying vacant.

At present, a surgeon, paediatrician, orthopaedic surgeon and medical officer (female) each are on long leave. One doctor is holding the charge of medical officer (health) while the other is holding the charge of tuberculosis officer. Practically, there are 12 medical officers, including specialists, are performing their duties in the hospital. There is an acute shortage of MBBS as well as specialists in the regional hospital.

The management of regional hospital, through a recent official communication to the state government, has requested to fill vacant posts of medical officer, specialist along with para-medical staff in the public interest.

The management has also urged to create additional posts of medical officer and specialist at the regional hospital for the smooth working of health facilities to the people of Chamba district.