Shortage of doctors in TMCH, patients flay 'poor' medical care

From a Correspondent

Tezpur, November 10: Tezpur Medical College and Hospital (TMCH) has failed to meet the needs of patients due to alleged negligence of a section of doctors towards their duties and also due to the shortage of doctors.

Allegations frequently made by patients coming from the far-flung areas provide a very negative picture of the medical college and hospital, although the authority claims to provide adequate healthcare service to the people. Describing the bitter experience of alleged idequate treatment by a doctor in the Orthopedic Department of the medical college, a patient who recently went to the department with a fracture case, alleged that due to the insincere handling of the issue, her hand is yet to be healed properly. According to the people, the medical college and hospital established in 2013 under the State Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Assam, was a newest entry of the State Government for the promotion of healthcare services and medical education in the State. But it has allegedly failed to live up to the expectations of the people and to meet their healthcare needs.

There are altogether  23 departments in the Medical College and Hospital, including Atomy, Physiology, Biochemistry and Metabolic Medicine, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Toxicology, Community medicine, General medicine, Pediatrics, Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases, Dermatology, Psychiatry, General Surgery, Orthopedics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Anesthesiology, Radio Diagnosis and Dentistry. However, due to the shortage of doctors, most of the departments are blamed for not being able to provide proper treatment to the patients.

Moreover, people have alleged interference of middlemen in every case, functioning of unlicensed pharmacies near the medical college and hospital campus, and also that doctors most of the time remain busy in their private chamber while neglecting their duties in the medical college and hospital. All these have maligned the image of the medical institution.

 “We urge the State Health Minister to intervene in the issue for the greater interest of the development of the medical college so that people can avail better healthcare service in the days to come,” local people said.