Telangana facing a shortage of doctors in rural areas
By Newsmeter Network Published on 29 Jan 2020 9:54 AM GMT
Hyderabad: Community Health Centers (CHCs) in Telangana are facing an acute shortage of doctors, as several vacant posts are lying unfilled for long. A similar situation is haunting para-medical space as well. Many posts of lab technicians, pharmacists continue to remain vacant, said a doctor at CHC.
Of the sanctioned specialist posts at CHCs, a whopping 59 per cent remain vacant, he further said, adding that about 17 per cent doctors at district hospitals, 52 per cent at regional hospitals are yet to be filled up.
Central Health and Family Welfare Department released data on rural health for the 2018-19 year. Telangana has one health sub-centre for every 5,000 population in rural areas. Out of the 4,744 health sub-centres, 73 per cent of them do not have a washroom facility, according to the latest report. About 41 doctor positions at PHCs are vacant as are 151 unfilled positions for Ayush doctors.
Community Health Centers have yet to recruit 141 gynaecologists, 49 physicians, 124 paediatricians, 55 radiographers, 233 pharmacists, 126 lab technicians, 450 nurses, 29 Ayush doctors and 685 Asha workers, states the report.
The shortage of doctors and support staff is dampening the spirit of Telangana government, which aims at providing 24-hour services in obstetrics, gynaecology, paediatric and anaesthesia at the community health centres.
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is encouraging people to get quality medical services at government hospitals. The TRS government is offering KCR kits to pregnant women to encourage deliveries at government hospitals and reduce the mortality rate in the State.
Generally, every community health centre is equipped with up to 50 beds and three gynaecology and obstetric specialists. Further, three more paediatricians and three anaesthesia specialists should be there at every community health centre.
Community health centres also lack specialist radiologists for taking care of mother and child health services.
Telangana Vaidya Vidhan Parishad (TVVP) has to recruit the doctors, other specialists and supporting staff for community health centres and area hospitals.
