After facing the acute shortage of manpower in the State Health Department, the department faced the brunt of natural calamities that wrecked havoc in the entire State.
Sources revealed that the around one-and-half-a-dozen health posts and health centres are reported to be completely washed away in the flash flood in the last month. However, department sources revealed that the damaged health centres would be equipped with latest technology in order to bear the brunt of natural calamities, if it strikes in the near future.
Despite the fact that the more than one decade has passed since the formation of Uttarakhand, the shortage of doctors and para-medical is the same as it was to be at the time of inception of Uttarakhand. It is noteworthy that 1,200 doctors including those doctors who are on contract basis are working against the sanctioned the post of 2,400 medical officers in the Garhwal and Kumaon divisions of Uttarakhand.
As per the estimate prepared by the State Health Department, health centres and health posts at Gaurikund, Rambada, Guptkashi and Kedarnath are completely washed away thus causing loss of nearly `7 crore to the department.
One of the department sources who wished anonymity told The Pioneer that department will lay special focus to reconstruct earthquake resistant building of the health centres and to equip with best medical equipments depending on the population and the OPD (Out Patients’ Department) of the area.