Belthangady: The health centres in Belthangady taluk have become a source of problem for the public living in the region. There is acute shortage of staff to occupy various vacant posts. The then health minister U T Khader had promised to fill the vacant posts last year. But it has remained a mere promise. Now that Khader’s tenure as a health minister is over, the public is expecting the local MLA’s to bring the situation to the notice of the present health minister and the state government.
As many as 7 out of 11 government primary health centres in the taluk, do not have doctors. Leave alone doctors, there is shortage of regular staff.
The primary health centre in Belthangady has every facility like any other private hospital. Patients from in and around the taluk visit the centre. Unfortunately, the posts of surgeon, child specialist, anesthesiologist, senior Pharmacist and superintendent are vacant. Only two out of 10 Group D posts are occupied. The two employees are doing additional work along with their daily responsibilities. Despite these shortcomings, the trivial staff available has been working efficiently, says public.
The situation is pathetic in almost every health centre in the taluk. The unavailability of a single doctor at Kaniyur, Naravi, Indabettu, Hathyadka, Dharmasthala primary health centre and Girijana checkup centre, proves the fact. A doctor visits the centre twice a week. The patients receive treatment only when the doctor visits, or else the nurses are the doctors for the patients!
The posts of 25 junior health assistants (female) and 26 health assistants (male) are lying vacant. Three staff nurses and 13 clerks’ psost are vacant too. Two out of 3 posts for driver and 7 out of 10 posts for pharmacists add to the tally of vacant posts.
Quite surprisingly, there is a request for creating more posts in the health centres. When the existing posts are lying vacant, how can one expect the new posts to be occupied?
In Charmady, the government has released Rs 1.50 cr for the construction of a new primary health centre, but the work has not yet started due to some issues connected with the land. There is no staff in the existing centres, how the government will get new staff for upcoming centres, questioned the locals.
With the advent of rainy season, several vector-borne diseases like dengue and malaria are spreading in the area rapidly. The health minister must take quick action and fill the vacant posts to help the rural people.
We have appointed doctors to visit the centres twice in a week. Despite shortage, we have been trying to deliver people friendly service, said Dr Kalamadhu Shetty, Taluk Health Officer.
