JAMMU, MAY 27: Contrary to the tall claims of the state government of having streamlined the healthcare delivery system in every nook and corner of the state, the government run hospitals of district Poonch present a very gloomy picture of Medicare facilities with acute shortage of medical staff, including doctors.
 Sources said, Maharaja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital, Poonch is working with only 25 percent of sanctioned strength of doctors and paramedical staff as about 75 percent of the posts are laying vacant in the health institution.
 Sources added that out of six sanctioned posts of A-grade specialists, the hospital has only one gynecologist. Out of 25 posts of grade-B specialists, only nine are available and against 33 sanctioned posts of assistant surgeons, the hospital has only six. Fifteen out of 20 posts of senior nurses, 12 out of 20 posts of junior nurses and nine out of 10 posts of junior pharmacists are lying vacant.
 The situation at the Sub-District Hospital Mandi-upgraded in the year 1988, is even worst as out of 28 sanctioned posts of doctors, only four are available. Two MBBS doctors, one each in BUMS and ISIM, and a retired surgeon deputed under NRHM are running the hospital at present. Posts of B-grade specialists including Physician, Surgeon, Gynecologist, Pediatrician, and Anesthesia are lying vacant. Health facilities in the Tehsil include six Primary Health Centres, three Allopathic Dispensaries, and four Medical Aid Centres. These centres are also without doctors.
 Similarly other Sub District Hospitals in the district are also facing acute shortage of medical staff.
 Social worker and district organizing secretary PDP, Raiz Atish, said that patients of Tehsil Mandi and other Tehsils of district Poonch were facing huge problems due to negligible strength of doctors in the health institutions. Due to the lack of doctors, the hospital managements refer patients to the District Hospital Poonch for treatment, which in turn refer them to Government Medical College Jammu for the same reason.
 Medical Superintendent of District Hospital Poonch, Dr Niaz Ahmad, while talking to Greater Kashmir admitted the shortage of doctors in district hospital and other hospitals of the district.
 He said that Health Minister and Director Health Jammu on their visit to Poonch on May 24, has announced providing of three Assistant Surgeons and a gynecologist in the District Hospital within week, CT Scan Machine before July 15, and early construction of Blood Bank building.  
 Dr Niaz hoped that on getting these facilities, working of District Hospital would be improved a lot. 

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