Patients suffer as Dera Bassi hospital sans ortho specialist

Satinder Pal Singh

Dera Bassi, February 27

Residents of the town and nearby villages continue to face hardships as the post of an orthopaedic doctor at the Civil Hospital has been lying vacant for the past seven months. Besides, out of the two sanctioned posts of child specialist, one is lying vacant.

While the hospital had an orthopaedic doctor, he left the job in July last year and since then the post had been lying vacant. As a result, patients with orthopaedic ailments visiting the Civil Hospital are referred to other departments for further treatment.

Catering to more than hundreds of patients from nearby villages and towns, the Dera Bassi Civil Hospital received the status of the sub-divisional hospital in 2010. But, due to lack of the staff and as well as proper infrastructure, changing of status had no meaning for patients.

With no orthopaedic doctor and a shortage of child specialist at the hospital patients are facing tough time. In such a scenario, patients are referred to other hospitals in Chandigarh or Panchkula.

Every day, accident victims are brought to the hospital, but even small cases related to bone injuries are referred to the PGIMER and GMCH, Sector 32, Chandigarh, or other higher facilities.

As a result, a majority of patients are forced to opt for expensive treatment from private hospitals in or around the city. The condition of the elderly and underprivileged, who cannot afford treatment in private hospitals or travel outside the state, is pitiable.

A patient at the Civil Hospital said, “Patients suffer when specialist doctors are not available. They have to go to other hospitals where specialists are available. The government must ensure that as soon as any post at the hospital gets vacant, alternative arrangement are made.”

When contacted, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health and Family Welfare Minister, Punjab, said the matter had already been brought into his knowledge. He assured that vacant posts at the Civil Hospital would be be filled soon.