46% posts of doctor lying vacant in CM’s home district 

Healthcare hit

• Not even a single doctor is deputed in several primary health centres
• Pharmacists are performing the role of a doctor at these centres

Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Muktsar, July 15

Healthcare services are hit even in Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal’s home district Muktsar with 57 of the 124 sanctioned posts of doctors lying vacant. The situation is grim in rural areas where against the sanctioned strength of 56 doctors, 22 are posted and the remaining 34 posts vacant.

Not even a single doctor is deputed in primary health centres (PHCs) in Harike Kalan, Kanianwali, Gulabewala, Panniwala, Virk Khera, Singhewala, Roranwali, Kandukhera, Bhai Ka Kera, Kot Bhai and Badian villages. Pharmacists are performing the role of doctor at these centres.

In such a situation, the common man has no other option, but to visit private hospitals that offer costly treatment. Some people even end up going to quacks.

The lack of specialists in Civil Hospitals is also a major cause of concern. In Muktsar Civil Hospital, 16 of 29 posts of doctor are lying vacant. In Malout Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are lying vacant. In Gidderbaha Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are lying vacant. In Badal Civil Hospital, four of 13 posts are vacant.

Community Health Centres (CHCs) also face shortage of doctors. Six of seven sanctioned posts of doctor at Bariwala CHC are lying vacant and three of six posts at Chak Sherewala CHC are vacant.

Sources said in the last one-and-a-half months, nearly 20 doctors were transferred out of the district, but only three were replaced. “In May, 84 medical officers (doctors) were posted in the district. Now, there are only 67,” a source said.

Sources further said several medical officers refused to be posted in the district as it was less developed. For instance, a doctor was transferred to Kanianwali village PHC in the recent past, but he did not join.

Nearly half of the posts of senior medical officer (SMO) in the district are lying vacant. The vital post of district health officer (DHO), one of the two posts of Food Safety Officer and one of the two posts of drugs inspector is lying vacant.

Balraj Singh, Sarpanch, Gulabewala village, said, “I have come to Chandigarh to request top officers of the Health Department to depute a doctor at our village PHC, where not even a pharmacist is deputed.”

Dr Jagjivan Lal, Civil Surgeon, Muktsar, said, “We have taken up the matter with the higher authorities. We are trying our best to manage with the resources available.”

Moreover, though the district has the state’s highest average of 136 cancer patients per 1 lakh people, no cancer specialist is deputed in any government hospital.

Courtesy: The Tribune