Denizens at mercy of God as doctors shifted from villages
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, May 30: In an attempt to tackle Coronavirus in the capital city by establishing additional health infrastructure, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir is apparently subjecting the rural belts to more devastation during the ongoing second wave of the pandemic.
As the Department of Health and Medical Education is concentrating on deployment of more medicos in the COVID designated hospitals in Jammu city, doctors and para-medical staff are being deployed here by shifting them from rural hospitals and Primary Health Centres, which are already facing acute shortage of staff.
More worrisome is the fact that in the process, some rural hospitals and PHCs have been rendered virtually defunct as the single Medical Officers (Medicines) serving in such health centres were too shifted to new facilities in Jammu.
Notwithstanding the protests lodged by the locals and submission of representations against rendering these rural hospitals defunct particularly during the COVID pandemic, the Department of Health went ahead with implementing its order of shifting the doctors.
Even the home constituency of J&K BJP President Ravinder Raina was not spared and the only Physician in PHC Sunderbani was shifted to Jammu despite strong protests by the locals against the Government order in this regard.
Similarly, the only Physician at Sub-District Hospital Chenani and Sub-District Hospital Khour were also shifted to Jammu during this pandemic thus leaving the COVID infected people there at the mercy of God.
However, at the same time, a few blue eyed doctors are still enjoying their attachment in the Directorate of Health Services Jammu and performing ‘clerical’ jobs for the reasons best known to the concerned authorities, who are not utilizing their services as medicos.
A Consultant Anesthesia is attached with the DHS Jammu since long but the only Incharge Consultant Anesthesia at Emergency Hospital Batote was shifted to Jammu with the result no surgical treatment can now be given to the accident victims there during urgent situation.
Pertinent to mention that the prevailing second wave of COVID-19 is also hitting rural areas, which had mostly remained safe during the first wave. A number of positive cases and deaths are being reported from the rural areas even as unconfirmed reports said that maximum cases of COVID in remote belts remain un-noticed.
While a lot of media coverage has focused on the lack of oxygen and hospital beds in the cities, reports said that the deadly virus is severely hitting the rural belts where access to basic health care is virtually nonexistent.
As the Government order number 410-JK (HME) of 2021, dated 24-05-2021, makes it clear that all the doctors, whose temporary deployment is being made, shall be reverted back to their original place of postings on the expiry of authorized term of deployment, the people in rural areas rued that the establishment was concerned about providing health care to the city people at the cost of those living in villages.
Seven Physicians, 10 Anesthetists, 5 Pediatricians and 25 Medical Officers were recently shifted from their place of postings in different health centres across Jammu and deployed at 500-Bedded COVID Hospital Jammu, which was inaugurated yesterday by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
Despite repeated attempts, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo could not be contacted for his comments over the situation and grievance of people in rural areas.
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