PHCs sans doctors in Udupi

Gangolli, Aloor, Siddapura, Belwe and Bajagoli Primary Health Centres in the district do not have doctors to attend to the patients. At few places, instead of two doctors, single doctor is managing the show.

Udupi district has 59 primary health centres, six community health centres and two taluk hospitals. There is a shortage of 18 specialists in the district, said DHO Dr Ramachandra Bairy to Deccan Herald.

According to Health department, Udupi district has more number of primary health centres.

As per the rules of the Union government, for a population of 10 lakh, the number of primary health centres must be 33.

However, the district has a population of 11 lakh and the number of primary health centres is 59. Hence the funds from Central government have reduced.

In the meantime, 22 nurses who were appointed to the district under NMRH have been transferred to Mysore.

As a result, five primary health centres which were sanctioned to the district have been shifted to other districts.

If any doctors are on leave in primary health centres, then patients will have to be brought to district hospital for treatment.

Though there was a proposal to shift the primary health centres from Muniyalu, Perdur, and Hattiyangadi owing to the shortage of doctors and nurses, the locals have opposed the move.

Upgradation

The people in Udupi have been demanding upgradation of District hospital at Ajjarakadu in Udupi.

A proposal of Rs 2.5 crore was sent to the Health department on May 18, 2011. District Surgeon Dr Chandrashekar Adiga said the district hospital will not get any new building. However, the existing building will see white wash and repair.

 “The emergency and trauma unit of the hospital will be upgraded. The hospital will get few equipment which are needed for the hospital,” he said.