Unwillingness of doctors to render service in rural areas of the State is a long standing problem that has defied solution. We have heard a lot about the government issuing warnings and threats to doctors that they would be dealt with according to the law if they refused and avoided posting to rural areas. Such threats have never yielded the desired result and the practice of leaving rural health centres and district hospitals starving for want of doctors, gynecologists, orthopedists and para-medical staff. Doctors use their political influence and lever to escape rural posting. Favouritism and nepotism are widespread in medical services and no action is taken against the defaulters.
The case of four hospitals including a Community Health Centre (CHC) and three Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Sogam Block in Kupwara District of North Kashmir is in sight. Reports are that 22 posts of Medical Officers (MOs) and specialists and 33 posts of paramedics are lying vacant in the Block Hospitals. Sources said only three ISM doctors are posted in Lalpora, Cheerkote and Tikipora PHCs respectively. Interestingly, in another PHC at Maidanpora of the Sogam, three doctors are posted. Sogam Block comprises 1.6 lakh population and no fewer than 144 deliveries were performed in one month. This has been done without facilities like X-ray labs, ECG machines and digital testing labs anywhere in these centres. Functionaries say that even if the hospital accessories were provided, these would be meaningless in absence of doctors, surgeons and Para medical staff. More disgusting is the situation that although ambulances are available in Cheerkote, Lalpora and Tikipora PHCs but there are no drivers and the ambulances remain unused. People of the area are very right in saying that these health centres have no utility for them because owing to crunch in medical staff, the patients are forced to go to either Kupwara district hospital or to Handwara hospital, which is far off and very cumbersome for the poor people of the area.
We implore the Health and Medical Education Department to take serious view of the situation and reverse the present position in the Block health centres and hospitals. Vacancies of doctors should be filled immediately and the Government has to take the responsibility of providing adequate medical facilities to the people. A campaign against nepotism and favouritism needs to be carried out against those showing reluctance in rendering service in rural areas.
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