Una hospital without surgeon for 4 months

Rajesh Sharma

Una, June 18

The Una district hospital has been without any orthopaedic surgeon for the last four months. Patients and their attendants are at the receiving end as the hospital authorities have been left with no other option than to refer them to the PGI, Chandigarh.

Besides, people with disabilities have to travel to the Tanda medical college for getting the disability certificate or its renewal.

Chief Medical Officer Dr Raman Sharma said the lone orthopaedic surgeon had resigned. He said all cases related to the department were being referred to hospitals outside the district.

Dr Sharma said the weekly medical board for issuing and renewing disability certificates had been suspended at the hospital and the matter had been referred to the higher authorities.

The orthopaedic department at the hospital has been facing instability for the past couple of years. Earlier, two surgeons had to leave following their selection as assistant professors in medical colleges. The surgeon appointed thereafter has quit the government service.

Sources said the hospital also lacked infrastructure for surgeries. C-Arm machine used for performing long bone interlocking surgeries had been non-functional for the last many years. This machine also had the X-ray facility to give real-time images to the surgeon regarding the alignment of broken bones from various angles.

The CMO said this machine was a must while conducting surgeries. The medical officer said he would discuss the matter with the Directorate and also with the company concerned to check it for repair.