Kupwara, Mar 25: The shortage of manpower in health centres of this frontier district is adversely affecting the patient care.  
 Nearly 80 sanctioned posts of doctors and 270 posts of paramedics are lying vacant from years in the district hospital, seven sub district hospitals, 31 primary health centres /NTPHC’S and six dispensaries, sources told Greater Kashmir.
 They said out of 46 sanctioned posts of B-grade specialists only 13 had been filled while as out of 135 posts of assistant surgeons and 40 posts of dentists, 100 and 25 had been filled respectively. 
 Only two doctors are working in the SDH Kralpora out of the 15 sanctioned posts, sources said adding the posts of surgeons in the hospital and SDH Zachaldara had not been filled till date.
 According to sources, not a single pediatrician was posted in the district due to which the parents had to take their ailing children to city hospitals and private clinics. “All the seven posts of pediatrician sanctioned for the district have not been filled,” they revealed.
 Not only this, several areas in district also lack supervision by authorities as BMO posts were also vacant in Zachaldara and Kalaroos.
 The dearth of paramedics also presents bleak picture of the health system in the area. Out of 1270 paramedic and Class IVth posts, 270 are still lying vacant, they said.
 The district has only four community health officers while as 23 posts out of 27 are vacant and 23 posts of medical assistant are also lying vacant out of 195 sanctioned, sources revealed.
 Sources reveal the ambulances in the hospitals were without drivers. “The vehicles are lying unused as we don’t have enough drivers, “an official said.
 Despite repeated attempts, the Director Health and Health Minister could not be contacted.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 25 Mar 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 26 Mar 2010 00:00:00 IST