RAJOURI, JUNE 25: People of Kalakote tehsil of this border district are facing severe hardships due to the shortage of requisite staff at Community Health Center (CHC), catering to the medical needs of thousands of people.
 Official sources said that against the sanctioned strengthen of 12 Assistant Surgeons, only two doctors were working in the Health Center forcing the local residents to travel several kilometers to reach District Hospital Rajouri, even for the basic health care needs.
 The hospital besides two Assistant Surgeons has only one Surgeon specialists, who is reportedly forced to cater more than fifty patient every day at the Center.
 “There is severe staff shortage at the CHC, which is the only health center in the entire area”, Abdul Gani, a local resident said adding, “There is no Pediatrician, Physician, Gynecologist, ENT, Ortho and Ophthalmologist as all the sanctioned posts were lying vacant since years”.
 “We took up the matter with the concerned authorities including the minister on several occasion but each time we are only getting the assurances”, Amit, another local resident said.
 People here alleged that the tall claims of the government regarding the upliftment of basic facilities in the rural areas were merely to hoodwink the people, while the ruling class was not bothered about the problems being faced by common men.
 “Most of the time the patients at the Center are being asked to go to the District Hospital at Rajouri or Government Medical College Jammu”, Irfan Ahmed, a local businessman said. He claimed that the Center has become a referral institution and has failed to meet the needs of the local population.
 When contacted, Block Medical Officer of Kalakote Dr Suresh Gupta admitted that the Center was facing staff shortage. However, he said that the available staff was doing its best to meet the requirements.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 25 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST