<p>Under-staffed, under-equipped and unhygienic are standout features of the government facility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The taluk hospital denies patients timely and appropriate treatment due to lack of adequate number of doctors and other medical staff. This, in spite of crores of rupees having been spent to establish the hospital.<br /><br />Patients who were unable to obtain treatment here have, in desperation, resorted to hospitals in Chikkaballapur and Gauribidanur. Some have even turned to hospitals in Bangalore for help, saying the efficient treatment in the Capital makes the expensive medical costs bearable.<br /><br />The two-storeyed hospital in Gudibande has been allocated 12 doctors. But there are only two doctors who show up on duty regularly as ten other vacancies have not yet been filled. <br /><br />A similar situation prevails for the admission of medical staff vacancies. Doctors continue to diagnose and treat out-patients with whatever limited facilities they have been provided with.<br /><br />“We cannot afford treatment at private hospitals, so we come here. But we are denied comprehensive medical care at this hospital. We have to bear illness and pain, and also wait long hours just to consult with the doctor. In addition, we are asked to purchase medicines from outside the hospital,” a relative of a patient told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />“The sanitation facilities are also very poor. There is no cleanliness in and around the hospital. It is almost impossible to obtain correct diagnosis due to shortage of staff. This kind of mismanagement and inefficiency disappoints us,” the relative added.<br /><br />Doctors sought transfers<br /><br />“Several doctors were deputed to the hospital a few months back. However, they did not prefer to work here and sought a transfer and moved elsewhere. Although salaries have been hiked and incentives have been raised, nobody wants to come here. The government is ready to receive more doctors at the hospital, but the sentiment remains unreciprocated,” said a staff at the hospital.<br /><br />Positions vacant<br /><br />Eighty-eight jobs have been approved for the hospital. But it is shocking to note that only 19 vacancies have been filled in all. Out of the 20 nursing staff that must be functional, only two of them are employed. <br /><br />Thirty-two vacancies have been created for Group-D workers, but there are only four vacancies which have been filled. Also, the positions of general surgeon, anaesthesiologist, ophthalmologist, orthopaedic, dental surgeon have remained vacant.<br /><br />“Four of us here work on a contract basis. But we haven’t received our salaries in over three months. We are in a fix whether to continue here or seek employment elsewhere,” said a nurse at the hospital.<br /></p>
<p>Under-staffed, under-equipped and unhygienic are standout features of the government facility.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The taluk hospital denies patients timely and appropriate treatment due to lack of adequate number of doctors and other medical staff. This, in spite of crores of rupees having been spent to establish the hospital.<br /><br />Patients who were unable to obtain treatment here have, in desperation, resorted to hospitals in Chikkaballapur and Gauribidanur. Some have even turned to hospitals in Bangalore for help, saying the efficient treatment in the Capital makes the expensive medical costs bearable.<br /><br />The two-storeyed hospital in Gudibande has been allocated 12 doctors. But there are only two doctors who show up on duty regularly as ten other vacancies have not yet been filled. <br /><br />A similar situation prevails for the admission of medical staff vacancies. Doctors continue to diagnose and treat out-patients with whatever limited facilities they have been provided with.<br /><br />“We cannot afford treatment at private hospitals, so we come here. But we are denied comprehensive medical care at this hospital. We have to bear illness and pain, and also wait long hours just to consult with the doctor. In addition, we are asked to purchase medicines from outside the hospital,” a relative of a patient told Deccan Herald. <br /><br />“The sanitation facilities are also very poor. There is no cleanliness in and around the hospital. It is almost impossible to obtain correct diagnosis due to shortage of staff. This kind of mismanagement and inefficiency disappoints us,” the relative added.<br /><br />Doctors sought transfers<br /><br />“Several doctors were deputed to the hospital a few months back. However, they did not prefer to work here and sought a transfer and moved elsewhere. Although salaries have been hiked and incentives have been raised, nobody wants to come here. The government is ready to receive more doctors at the hospital, but the sentiment remains unreciprocated,” said a staff at the hospital.<br /><br />Positions vacant<br /><br />Eighty-eight jobs have been approved for the hospital. But it is shocking to note that only 19 vacancies have been filled in all. Out of the 20 nursing staff that must be functional, only two of them are employed. <br /><br />Thirty-two vacancies have been created for Group-D workers, but there are only four vacancies which have been filled. Also, the positions of general surgeon, anaesthesiologist, ophthalmologist, orthopaedic, dental surgeon have remained vacant.<br /><br />“Four of us here work on a contract basis. But we haven’t received our salaries in over three months. We are in a fix whether to continue here or seek employment elsewhere,” said a nurse at the hospital.<br /></p>