Hospitals plagued by shortage of staff

The existing staff works under tremendous pressure in the district.

The district and the taluk hospitals and the primary health centres and sub health centers need as many as 1434 doctors and nursing staff. Only 457 posts are filled of the 977 vacant posts.

With fewer medicos available in the health centers, the patients are worst suffers
The issue is being continuously discussed in the district progress review meeting. The district in-charge minister always promises to fill the vacant posts. However, no action has been taken.

The doctors find it impossible to attend to all the patients - both in-patients and out-patients - on a given day

We have to attend the government programmes and meetings on one hand and on the other hand we cannot also neglect patients. If the programmes are not attended we will be issued notices and if we are not present at the hospital the patients will be affected. We are torn between these two duties, said a doctor.

However, the number of patients visiting hospitals is increasing forcing them to wait for long time in queue before being attended. As a result of which the patients are forced to go to private clinics.

According to the District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr B N Byra Reddy, the district in-charge minister Shobha Karandlaje has promised to appoint doctors shortly. Till then the doctors have to endure all the pressure.