Homeopathy doc post lying vacant in Rambha dispensary for 15 years

The post of a homeopathy doctor in Rambha NAC dispensary is lying vacant for last 15 years for reasons best known to the authorities.

The poor patients from the Rambha NAC and from surrounding seven gram panchayats, who depend on the dispensary for their day-to-day healthcare, have been subjected to immense and untold hardships due to the absence of the doctor, said the former Deputy Speaker and veteran BJP leader Rama Chandra Panda.  

Rambha NAC has a population of 10,000 situated on the Chilka basin. 

The other panchayats dependant on the hospital include SRC Pur, Ramagarah, Subalia, Palang, Sabulia, Dhimiria and Kanaka under Khallikote block and Khandadeuli under Ganjam block.  A majority of the population in the areas are Scheduled Caste (SC) and fishermen community.

Notably, the Government dispensary has been running in the Rambha NAC since early 1970s, but due to apathy of the State Government and more particularly, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the doctor post has been lying vacant since long.    

Keeping the repeated demands of the locals, the NAC in its meeting on September 29, 2012 had resolved to appoint a willing homeopath doctor on contractual basis to run the dispensary but the Government is yet to approve it.

In the meantime, Rambha NAC chairman lakshman Behera in a letter to the Director, Housing and Urban Development has requested to expedite the approval for filling up the vacant post of doctor, sources said.