Demand raised to appoint permanent doctors in Phoolbari Hospital

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: At a time when the whole Health and Family Welfare Department across the nation has initiated due steps to prevent the outbreak of the pandemic COVID-19, the people of larger Phoolbari area in Lakhimpur district have raised their demand to appoint permanent doctors in Phoolbari Ten Bedded Hospital.

Notably, the Phoolbari Ten Bedded Hospital under Naoboicha legislative assembly constituency of the district was established at Phoolbari located in the Assam-Arunachal border area in order to secure the health of more than forty thousand people of the locality. It was dedicated to the service of humanity in 2016 and since then no permanent doctor has been appointed in the hospital during the long period of around four years. In the course of time, the inauguration of the hospital has turned to be a political gimmick on the part of the State Government in the name of the development of health sector in the district. Though a doctor temporarily worked in the hospital for a few months, at present it has been running without any doctors over a year. Now a staff nurse (GNM), an ANM nurse, a pharmacist have been working in the hospital opening it from 9am to 1.30pm. On the other hand, no Grade IV post is existing in the health establishment at present. Though one was there, it was shifted to Naoboicha Block Primary Health Center (BPHC) as per report found. The hospital management committee has kept a safai karmi in the hospital to perform the most essential hygienic activities of the hospital.

During the last four year period, though the people of Phoolbari have clamoured for the appointment of a permanent doctor in the hospital, it has become a fry cry due to the lack of good will and due steps for the same on the part of the State Government, the Health Minister and his department. Regarding the issue, Puniram Saikia, a senior citizen of Phoolbari, aged over 79, said in front of The Sentinel that the patient of the area had to face massive anomalies with regard to their treatment as a result of the non-appointment of doctors since its inauguration.

“The family members of the patients under Phoolbari, Uttar Laluk, Rampur, Bogibil Gaon panchayats, which are still awaiting for due development regarding road communication, have to suffer a lot while shifting them to either Naoboicha BPHC or North Lakhimpur Civil Hospital despite the existence of this hospital. It results in their loss of time and money both along with a threat of life to the patients. The people of the area are facing with problems regarding their common ailments too because of the lack of the doctor in the hospital. So we demand the State government to appoint permanent doctors in the hospital immediately,” he added. Further the local people have expressed their vehement resentment against the existing Naoboicha MLA and the district administration for their lackadaisical attitude regarding the issue.

Mentionably, no residential quarters for the doctors and other officials along with the hospital building was constructed. As a result of it, the two nurses have to manage their stay of their own to serve in the hospital. Due to this establishment discrepancy, the employees of the hospital have to face severe anomalies while conducting their services. The local people have demanded the Health Minister to initiate immediate step to appoint doctors and address the establishment discrepancy of the hospital for the greater interest of the people of border area.

Also Read: Covid-19: Paucity of protection kits makes Tripura doctors a worried lot

Also Watch: NHM Director, Assam, Dr Lakshmanan S on “How to prepare yourself amidst the Coronavirus Outbreak”