Saturday, 16 April 2011

Ramban DH: Saga of neglect, as hospital without required staff, equipment

Tahir Mushtaq

JAMMU, Mar 28: While the government claims that it has streamlined the functioning of the hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir, but the condition of the District Hospital (DH), Ramban is an example of apathetic attitude of the government. 

Due to lack of staff and modern equipments, the hospital remains non-functional, with end sufferer the patients.
 

There are several posts of medical and para medical staff which are lying vacant due to which patients have to suffer. Beside this MBBS doctors are treating those patients which need specialist doctor, resulting into improper treatment.
 

Sources said the staff appointed there are less than the sanctioned posts. Besides this hilly district having maximum population in rural and hilly area lacks the required infrastructural facilities. This District Ramban has the population of about 2.34 lacs.
 

He said that there are two sanctioned post for B-Grade Anesthetic doctor, but only one doctor is appointed on the said post, in the case of Radiology Department, the sanctioned post B-Grade Doctor is one but this post is also vacant, similar in ENT Department, the post is also awaited for B-Grade doctor, due to which the assistant surgeon has to do the work of these doctors, which could be harmful to the patients.
 

Moreover, there are only 3 staff nurses available against 19 sanctioned posts. The condition in pathology section also not good, only four technicians are managing the work of laboratory. There testing kits are also not available in required quantity. Besides this there is no one appointed for blood bank due to which is it not working from the past about three years.
 

One could understand the plight of health institutions in the district, when even adequate medical staff is not available in already deficient hospitals. Locals alleged that the doctor referred them at the last time at last time to Jammu or Srinagar as there is no proper infrastructure for operation and other things.
 

Talking to TNI, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Ramban Dr Suresh Khajuria said that for the appointment of staff nurses the department has advertised 13 posts under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) about two weeks back, and the department decided to take the interview on March 25, but due to some reason the interviews were not conducted.
 

He further said that the department has sent proposal to the higher authorities for the appointment of B-Grade doctor in Radiology and ENT department besides appointment for blood bank.
 

“It will take about minimum two years more to complete the new building of DH, Ramban” he added.
 

He maintained that the department has talked to the Deputy Commissioner Ramban about sanctioned more land for the construction of staff quarter for the employees of hospital.

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