PDP-BJP MLAs express concern over shortage of docs
Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, Jan 15: Noisy scenes were witnessed in the Legislative Assembly over ill-equipped Trauma Hospitals and lack of basic facilities in other health institutions in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir. While two Opposition MLAs staged walk-out while alleging absolute non-seriousness on the part of the Government in overcoming the shortcomings, the PDP-BJP MLAs expressed concern over continuous shortage of doctors in the health institutions in their respective areas.
While participating in the question regarding health care facilities, Independent MLA from Udhampur Pawan Gupta said, “Whenever the issue of Trauma Hospital in Udhampur is raised in the House the Government claims that the hospital is complete but the facts are contrary to that”.
He brought to the notice of the Speaker that last month seven people lost their lives and he personally shifted four injured persons to the Army’s Command Hospital because of poor facilities at the Trauma Hospital.
“There is no facility in the Trauma Hospital. Even there is acute shortage of doctors and para-medical staff but the Government claims that Trauma Hospital is functional”, he regretted and wanted to know from the Health Minister as to when the Trauma Hospital at Udhampur would be provided all the facilities and requisite manpower.
As there was no reply from the Health Minister Bali Bhagat, Udhampur MLA first entered the Well of the House to lodge protest over non-serious approach of the Minister and thereafter staged walkout.
Even a number of MLAs of ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) expressed concern over acute shortage of doctors in the health institutions in their respective constituencies.
“The situation in the health institutions in my constituency is worst as majority of the posts of the doctors are lying vacant during the past quite long time”, said PDP MLA Abdul Majeed Padder. Another PDP MLA Mohd Yousuf Bhat also raised the similar issue and said that Government should fill up the vacant posts of the doctors on war footing basis.
Even BJP MLA from Bhaderwah Daleep Parihar joined the issue and regretted that majority of the health centres in his constituency have been reeling under acute shortage of doctors and para-medical staff.
Though following the intervention of Speaker order was restored in the House yet noisy scenes were again witnessed when National Conference MLA from Bishnah Kamal Verma said that PHC Arnia has not been upgraded to the level of Sub-District Hospital despite repeated requests in this regard to the Health Minister.
“Upgradation of PHC is imperative so as to provide better healthcare facilities to the people who become victim of shelling and firing from across the border”, he said and hoped that Government will not brush aside the issue on the pretext of norms prescribed under Indian Public Health Standards.
National Conference MLA from Mendhar Javed Rana, while joining the issue, said, “there is no ambulance in my area despite the fact that Mendhar usually becomes target of shelling and firing from across the border”, adding “the Government has even failed to deploy sufficient number of doctors in majority of the health institutions in the border areas”.
Another National Conference MLA Mian Altaf Ahmed drew the attention of the House towards vacancies in Trauma Hospital Kangan and other health institutions. “The Trauma Hospital is also providing healthcare facilities to the pilgrims during annual Amarnathji Yatra but unfortunately it is reeling under shortage of doctors”, he said.
“We raised the issue at every forum including District Development Board meeting but no serious efforts have been made to fill up the vacancies”, he regretted and wanted to know the steps being taken by the Government in this regard.
The Health Minister, while answering queries of the MLAs, said that vacant posts will be filled soon after the completion of selection process by the Public Service Commission.
However, expressing dis-satisfaction over the reply of the Minister, MLA Mendhar Javed Rana staged walk-out. “You are strangulating the people”, he remarked before leaving the House.
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