Shortage of staff, infra ails Bathinda urban healthcare centres

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 1

At a time when hospitals are battling infrastructural issues, all four urban healthcare centres in the city are lying in a state of neglect.

These centres are reeling under staff shortage and inadequate infrastructure since their inception in September 2012. These centres were opened at Lal Singh Basti, Dhobiana Basti, Janta Nagar and Jogi Nagar under the National Urban Health Mission to provide basic and primary healthcare facilities to those who are financially weak.

The foundation stone of the centres was laid by the then Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal along with the then Health Minister Laxmi Kanta Chawla on February 22, 2009.

Despite the availability of buildings, the Health Department has failed to run these centres. The situation is such that despite huge buildings, the centres are operating as dispensaries.

Adoctor posted at the health centre said: “It is for the Health Department to decide. If they have invested crores of rupees to construct the spacious building of the health centre, they must ensure that adequate staff and medical equipment is provided here. The health centre caters to a population of over 40,000. These buildings can be utilised only if officials hire more staff and provide proper medical services at the centre.”

Bathinda Civil Surgeon Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu said there was a shortage of staff due to which these centres were not working to their capacity. “We send our requirements to the Health Department regularly to make sure we provide the best medical facilities to the people. The rest is up to the government,” he added.