Odisha facing acute shortage of doctors

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, July 28: As per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, Odisha should have 10,594 doctors, but people are managing with less than half the number of doctors in the State.“Against IPHS norms for posting of 10,594 doctors in the State, 5077 doctors were sanctioned and 3435 (32 per cent) were in position as of March 2013.Though 1075 specialist under 17 categories were essential for District Headquarters Hospitals, only 603 specialists were available,” according to a report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.Similarly, as against requirement of 20,064 health workers for Sub Health Centres in the State, 10914 (54 per cent) were in position.No staff nurse and lab technicians (LTs) were posted despite stipulation in IPHS to post five Staff Nurses and two LTs in each PHC.Besides, 59 per cent (1534) of pharmacists were found short in Primary Health Centres, according to the CAG report that was tabled in the State Assembly on Monday.The report further said that delivery of health care was affected due to absence of required health institutions in the State as per IPHS norms.“There were shortages of 3284 SHCs (33 per cent) and 370 PHCs (23 per cent).Despite stipulation in IPHS to have their own buildings, 91 PHCs and 2969 SHCs were functioning in private buildings in the State.“Due to lack of adequate monitoring, progress on infrastructure was not satisfactory as only 2491 (50 per cent) works were completed out of 5028 works sanctioned during 2007-13.Of the above, 1051(21 per cent) works were lying incomplete after incurring expenditure of Rs.40.01 crore and the balance 1486 (29 per cent) works were not yet started.”“Facilities for pathological tests were not available in 13 (54 per cent) test checked CHCs whereas X-ray and Electro Cardiogram (ECG) were not available in all the 24 test checked CHCs,” the CAG pointed out.Planning was deficient due to non preparation of perspective plans and annual action plans at the State, District and Block level, District Health Action Plan was prepared for only four out of 30 districts, the report added.“Training programme for skill development fell short of the target by 29 per cent during 2007-13.Services of trained doctors were not utilised as 17 trained doctors in Skilled Birth Attendance (SBA) and 11 in Life Saving Anesthesia Skill (LSAS) were not deployed for respective service.”“All types of essential drugs were not available in sampled DHHs, CHCs and PHCs.Drugs of Not of Standard Quality (NSQ) of Rs.5.80 lakh and Life expired drugs of Rs.0.74 lakh were administered to patients,” the CAG noted in its report.The CAG further said that monitoring was weak, inadequate holding of meetings by State and District Health Missions, non formation of Health Planning and Monitoring Committee were noticed.Thus, the objectives of the National Rural Health Mission to provide accessible, affordable, reliable and quality health care to the rural population sought to be achieved through NRHM remained largely unfulfilled, the CAG pointed out.