Lives at stake in Nayagarh DHH & Health Centres due to lack of doctors

Nayagarh: Healthcare services at the Nayagarh district headquarters hospital and many other primary health centres in the district including the one at Biridihi, are in a shambles due to absence of doctors.

Sources informed that two doctors have been appointed in the health centre at Biridihi, of which only one visits but not on a regular basis.

''There are two doctors appointed here out of which only one visits the hospital. Most of the times I have to look after the patients,'' said Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) of Biridihi PHC, Sumati Nayak.

As per reports, a total of 6 panchayats with about 5000 patients who depend on the health centre face a lot of problems due to lack of certified doctors.

''We travel a lot of distance to come to this health centre. As there are no doctors, it is difficult for us to get proper treatment,'' alleged a patient, Daitari Nayak.

Even the district headquarter hospital with around 2000 patients visiting every day functions with only 27 doctors while reports claimed that there are 54 posts in total.

Asked, Nayagarh CDMO Sweta Mohapatra informed, ''There is a district hospital, 12 health centres and 37 primary healthcare centres in the district. Of the required 192 posts for doctors, 110 posts are still lying vacant. This year, 24 doctors have been appointed through OPSC and 33 have been appointed on contractual basis.''