PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The functioning of Gandhi Shatabdi Eye Hospital has been hit due to the absence of permanent deployment of eye and skin specialists.
The hospital, which was specially established to provide specialised eye care to patients, is facing staff shortages following recent transfers.
According to principal medical superintendent, Dr Yatendra Singh, there are two sanctioned posts for doctors in the hospital’s Ophthalmology department. Earlier, Dr Shashi Vasan and Dr Mahesh Khetan were providing services in the eye department, but both were recently transferred to the DG Health office.
After their transfer, Dr Suvrat Arora, an eye specialist from Haridwar District Hospital, was supposed to join Gandhi Shatabdi Eye Hospital but has not reported for duty so far.
In view of the situation, CMO Dehradun earlier temporarily deployed an eye specialist from Mussoorie Sub-District Hospital , to provide services for two-three days.
To ensure continuity, the hospital administration has requested DG Health and the CMO Dehradun to temporarily redeploy Vasan until a new specialist joins. Singh said Vasan is currently providing services on a temporary basis and will continue till further orders.
He added that while both sanctioned posts are vacant, orders for the transfer of an eye specialist from Chamoli are awaited.
The hospital is also facing a shortage in the Skin department. Dr Anil Arya, who was earlier handling the Skin OPD, has been transferred to Haridwar. At present, resident doctors from the Medical College are managing the skin OPD. Singh said there is currently no other skin specialist available in Dehradun district and senior officials have been informed about the issue.
It is pertinent to mention that a few years ago, after Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital was upgraded from District Hospital to a Medical College, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital was designated as the District Hospital. Along with this, Gandhi Shatabdi Eye Hospital was also brought under the management of the District Hospital.
