Health Secretary Arti Ahuja visited the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) here on Wednesday. Some social activists expressed concerns over weak healthcare facility and dearth of doctors at the DHH, which is a referral hospital in the tribal-dominated district. The hospital has now 15 vacancies, including specialist doctor posts. Key posts in departments like medicine, orthopedics, Paediatrics, O&G, eye, skin, anaesthesia, pathology and surgery are lying vacant
They too appraised Ahuja that while 100 surgeon posts have been lying vacant at various Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in the district, no specialist doctors were posted in the last 10 years. At least 20 hospitals are being run by only health workers and nurses while some other hospitals are managed by Class IV employees.
Taking stock of the situation, Ahuja said efforts would be initiated soon to fill up vacant doctor posts soon. The Government has increased salary and other perks of doctors working in the remote areas, she said. She met freedom fighter Md Bazi Saheeb, who is undergoing treatment at the DHH. Among others, district Collector Rasmita Panda and CDMO Niranjan Nayak were present.