OTV Reality Check: Healthcare Services Crumbling In Odisha’s Malkangiri Owing To Shortage Of Doctors

Hospital is there but there are no doctors. Malkangiri district is suffering from acute doctor shortage. As per reports, as many as 238 doctor positions are lying vacant. Even staff nurse and healthcare personnel positions are lying vacant since long. As far as specialists doctors are concerned, only 14 vacancies have been filled out of total 56. The air services launched by the then CM Naveen Patnaik has stopped after facilitating patients only on five occasions. Under such circumstances, people go to quacks or black magicians to get cured of any ailment. Here’s a special report on the status of healthcare services in Malkangiri.

Healthcare services are crumbling in the interior pockets of the state. 
Hospitals are there, but there are no doctors. 
Patients are suffering after failing to avail treatment. 

These visuals present the state of affairs of healthcare services in Malkangiri district. 
OTV carried out a reality check at the Matapaka primary health centre. 
The hospital is run by a doctor and a pharmacist. 
Situation turns dire when the lone doctor remains absent for some reason. 
All the responsibility falls on the pharmacist. 
As per reports, Malkangiri district has 382 doctor positions while only 144 are appointed now, with the remaining 238 posts lying vacant. Similarly, only 14 specialists have been appointed out of the total 56 vacancies.
There is a requirement of at least 89 doctors in the 300-bedded Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital, but there are only 43 now. Moreover, out of the total 1,015 staff and health workers needed, there are only 617 appointed now.
With most positions lying vacant, the tribals here have no choice but to depend on quacks, superstitious beliefs or 'bhagwan bharose’. 

Not just the local residents, even people from neighbouring Chhattisgarh are also dependent on the district headquarters hospital for treatment. 
In 2021, the then CM of Odisha Naveen Patnaik had launched CM’s Air Health Service to provide free health services to patients in remote areas of Odisha, including Malkangiri, Nabarangpur, Kalahandi and Nuapada. However, the air service has been stopped since August 8, 2023 for reasons best known to the authorities concerned.  
When asked, chief district medical officer said govt has been apprised time and again about the shortage of doctors and specialists. Adequate treatment is ensured in remote areas with whatever infra and equipment is available.