Patients suffer as shortage of doctors plagues government healthcare facilities in Ganjam's Sanakhemundi

The previous government spent a lot of money to transform the healthcare sector by renovating infrastructure in different parts of Odisha. However, it is alleged that the people are yet to get any benefits out of it.

Take the case of Sanakhemundi block in Ganjam district. The block has a Community Health Center at Adapada and six primary health centres at Patapur, Sahaspur, Podamari, Dengausta, Kankarada and Goutami. 

However, the patients in the areas are reportedly not getting proper healthcare facilities at such healthcare centres due to lack of adequate doctors.

Local residents have expressed their resentment over such a state of affairs.

"We don't have enough doctors at the hospitals in our block. The doctors posted at the primary health and wellness centres are going to other hospitals on deputation. Some other doctors are also leaving the hospitals by seeking transfers as there are no proper residential facilities here for them," said Mukunda Chandra Barada, a resident of Patapur.

"I have been posted here for the last one month. I have learnt that a doctor posted here is working somewhere else on deputation. The nurses posted at the hospital are working in the field," said Dr B Kishan Kumar Subudhi, a doctor at Patapur Primary Health Center.

Adapada Community Health Center has 16 beds and the hospital was transformed under the 5T initiative of the previous government in the month of February. The hospital has many facilities like a registration counter, AYUSH OPD, Mo Seva Kakhya, a common ward, medicine distribution centres and public toilets. However, people are still deprived of availing of these facilities.

"Many specialist doctors' posts are lying vacant in the hospital. We have only four MBBS doctors and a dental surgeon at the hospital now. We are trying our best to run the hospital in a smooth manner. We have appraised our higher authorities about the problems. Hopefully, things will sorted out shortly," said Dr Bahan Das, In-charge of Adapada Community Health Center.