Tezu district hospital marred with myriad problems

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITAGAR, Feb 29: The ailing district hospital at Tezu, the headquarters of Lohit district is dogged with myriad problems and crying for urgent government attention for improving the healthcare delivery system to the people of the district and adjoining areas.

Despite innumerable representations sent to the Directorate of Health Services and the district health authority, there seems to be no sight of possible solution.

As per the reports of SMO in-charge Dr S J Bhowmick, the hospital has been virtually suffering from acute crisis of General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) and Specialists.

“Presently we have 5 GDMOs, (2 contractual and 3 regular) out of which a few frequently remained out of station citing persol reasons leaving only 2 to r doctors to look after all the departments including Out Patient Duty (OPD) and emergency. We are overburdened with duties and we have to work whole day and night,” laments Bhowmick.

“Everyday road accident cases are increasing and emergency care has to be made available. We cannot ignore such cases and nor we are able to work properly under such pressure. Moreover, the need of an aesthetist and a surgeon is urgently required keeping in view increasing number of operation cases,” rued the doctor.

Bhowmick further informed that if a Gyecologist is not able to handle a serious delivery case, the patient has to be directly referred to Assam and accordingly due to absence of aesthesia doctor and a blood bank in the hospital, the result could always be regretful.

“We have 12 doctors including DRCHO, DOTS, Vector Borne Disease Specialists, AIDS control officials, but apart from that, the dearth of an Ultra-Sound Machine, necessary minor surgical equipments, life saving drugs and various other basic facilities has plagued the health services miserably,” the SMO regretted.

“Even minor cases are being referred to Dibrugarh in Assam which, the poor patients cannot afford,” he added.

“The district hospital is badly suffering from basic health facilities and even for a simple surgery the patients are referred to Assam. Though the district hospital has been upgraded to a zol hospital but no noticeable change has been seen till date,” complaints one of the patients on condition of anonymity.

As per the laid-down guidelines of the Medical Council of India, a district hospital should have at least 32 doctors to provide better health services. Unfortutely, the health scerio of the district hospital is in a dismal State.