PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
The grim reality of the healthcare system in the mountainous state has come into focus once again with a CT scan machine, installed at a cost of approximately Rs three crore at Nainital’s B D Pandey District Hospital remaining defunct due to a lack of technicians. Consequently, patients are being forced to travel to Haldwani and other cities/towns for tests, raising questions about the seriousness of the state government in providing the much-needed healthcare facilities.
In 2022, a CT scan unit was installed at the hospital by Doctors for You and Crypto Relief at a cost of approximately Rs 2.75 crore and a technician was also sent to operate it. The people thought they would no longer have to travel outside for tests. However, after the technician’s contract expired in March, the machine has remained completely shut down with the hospital management having failed to make alternative arrangements. .
The hospital neither has a sanctioned position for a technician nor does the administration have the required budget to hire a separate staff.
Observers say that a facility like a CT scan is considered crucial for any hospital. “Immediate CT scans are essential in cases of road accidents, head injuries, brain strokes and many serious illnesses,” said one of them.
With the patients heading towards Haldwani, this forced journey often proves fatal for the critical ones.
Locals are aggrieved. They say that although the government makes lofty claims about a robust healthcare system in the mountains, the really is different.
The PMS of the hospital, Dr TK Tamta stated that the agreement between the donor organisation and the technician has expired. “There is no approved position for a CT scan technician at the hospital. A request for one has been sent to the government,” he added.
Meanwhile, the recent rain spell has further exacerbated the woes of the patients thronging the hospital. During the late-night rain, roofs began leaking from many spots. To prevent the water from dripping, the hospital staff moved away beds and made temporary arrangements by placing dustbins and other utensils at various locations.
Queried over the patients’ miseries, the PMS, Dr TK Tamta stated that the hospital building has consistently experienced leakage during the rainy season. “A proposal has been sent to the district administration and the government for repairs to the entire hospital building’s roof,” he added.
Now, add to this the specialist doctor crunch, the patients’ woes are clear. Patients who arrived at the hospital on Monday were severely impacted due to the absence of several specialist doctors. They were forced to wait for hours due to the absence of a cardiologist, paediatrician, gynaecologist and pulmonologists. Many of them who had come from faraway places for treatment returned sans treatment, utterly disappointed.
Notably, the healthcare system in the district hospital is continuously in bad shape due to vacant posts of doctors and doctors being on leave for a long time, while on Monday they had to face difficulties due to many specialist doctors being on leave.
Importantly, three posts of paediatrician are sanctioned in the hospital, but two posts are lying vacant for a long time. On Monday, the only paediatrician posted in the hospital was also absent due to which the children had to return with their disappointed parents. Additionally, one of the three gynaecologists has been on leave for nearly six months, while the other also took leave on Monday.
