The Rourkela Government Hospital (RGH) is the second biggest Government run hospital in tribal-dominated Sundargarh district. But the hospital is suffering from many deficiencies, including lack of specialist doctors for years.
The people of Panposh sub-division, Bonai sub-division, Rajgangpur, Kutra and neighbouring States like Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh depend on the hospital for treatment. Though the hospital is a 128 bedded, but in reality every day more than 300 indoor patients are admitted here for treatment. Besides, everyday more than 500 outdoor patients come to the hospital for consultancy.
As per record, the hospital has 61 sanctioned doctor posts. But as on date the hospital is having only 36 doctors and rest 25 are lying vacant for last many months. Surprisingly all the five sanctioned specialist posts in medicine department in the hospital are vacant.
Besides, five anesthesia doctors, one paediatrician, four ICU medical officers and seven reserved medical officers are also lying vacant here. Besides, many paramedical staff posts are also lying vacant here.
While the Government does not provide the staff against the sanction posts required for 128 beds, the standard of service extended to more than 300 beds could be well imagined, said a senior doctor on condition of anonymity.
Apart from these deficiencies, the Niramay Yojana is in dismay in this hospital. Though more than 500 varieties of medicines are supposed to be available in the dispensary but hardy 50 varieties of medicines are available here.
As Sundargarh is a mineral rich and industrial district and an NH is passing through it, there is every probability of fatal accident and it is also happening in regular interval. The seriously injured patients are immediately taken to the RGH for treatment. But due to lack of anesthesia doctors and ICU medical officers, it is difficult to extend medical services to the patients immediately.
Apart from this, all the four posts of doctors are also lying vacant here in urban revamping schemes. Due to this, the health services in urban slums are severely affected here.
It may be noted here that demands are made often to fill up the doctor posts and upgrade the status of the hospital by making Rourkela a separate health district, but they are hardly heeded. It is also urged that the Health Minister should visit hospitals like the RGH if he wants improvement in health services, especially in tribal districts.