The state health department is in shambles is no secret. From top to bottom everyone in the government is aware about the depressing condition of the government run hospitals.  The public outcry against increasing child mortality rate due to casual and nonchalant attitude of medicos and hospital administration was expected to wake up the government from deep slumber.  The government did initiate action against delinquent medicos. It appointed an inquiry officer to look into the causes of increase in child mortality. The report by the committee pointed out the deficiencies in the children hospital that explains the plight in all hospitals in the state. Nevertheless, so far the government has not taken any concrete steps for building infrastructure and furnishing the hospital with much needed equipment. Most of the hospitals in the state do not have bare minimum facilities for carrying out pathological or radiological investigations. Even the most underprivileged and economically backward are asked to get these investigations done from open market at very exorbitant rates.    Most of the hospitals in the state, particularly in rural areas, are without not only specialists but also paramedical staff. It seems the authorities at the top have become insular towards public outcry. Notwithstanding sever criticism over shortage of the staff the health and medical education department is unmoved. The shortage of medicos, nurses and paramedics has caused introduction of “unusual duty pattern” that provides three days off before and after a night duty. This pattern of duty roaster coupled with the shortage of staff has caused multiple problems. It has not only affected the critical areas but even the routine patient-care is suffering. The night time in-patient services in most of the state run hospitals are worst. It is hard reality that for lack of accountability no senior doctor stays in the hospital beyond few morning hours and at night even most critical patients are left to fresh medical graduates and internees. It is high time for the government to revamp the health administration in the state.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 28 Aug 2012 00:00:00 IST