The flow of visitors to the state has increased with the start of Char Dham Yatra recently. However, the entry-point of the pilgrimage for most persons coming from outside Uttarakhand- Haridwar is reeling under scarcity of medical facilities. The only blood bank in the district is on the verge of closure in absence of a pathologist.
With no pathologist available in the blood bank, the officials are mulling over shifting it to the state-run blood bank in Dehradun. It was decided that 28 units of blood stocked at Haridwar blood bank would to be sent to Dehradun blood bank say the medical staff but due to overstocking they have also refused to accept it.
However the in-charge chief medical superintendent is hopeful that one pathologist will join in Haridwar soon. The governmental health care facilities in Haridwar district are far from satisfactory.
Due to the paucity of doctors, patients have to go to private hospitals. The condition of the blood bank is the worst and the patients are made to run from pillar to post for blood.
Notably on May 8, the health and family welfare director general had directed a pathologist from Rishikesh hospital to join Haridwar blood bank but this has not happened yet.
Speaking to this correspondent, Urban Development Minister and local MLA Madan Kaushik said, “At many hospitals of the district there is paucity of doctors, we have been making alternative arrangements and have asked those in charge of hospitals to get the defunct testing equipment repaired. It will be done soon. "