E Arun & Tarun Kartick
Port Blair, Apr 24: Dr. S.K Paul, the Director of Health Services today clarified that the health department is in no way responsible for the death of the infant at Diglipur.
Speaking to Andaman Sheekha Dr. Paul said that the Doctors of the health department had done their job well and also had advised the patient not to travel through ATR. Further Dr. Paul also stated that the Doctors had referred the patient almost two weeks back but due to non-availability of ship tickets the patient waited for a long time at Diglipur, which became the main cause of the infant’s death.
Dr. Paul also informed that the delivery was not carried out at hospital and the infant was also pre-mature.
When Dr. Paul was questioned on why no helicopter was sent to air lift the patient he stated that “I was not informed about the need of a helicopter. The doctors had referred the patient to G.B Pant Hospital via sea route but the patient stayed back at Diglipur for almost two weeks. Usually, if I get any information about the need of a helicopter to airlift any patient, I arrange it immediately,” Dr. Paul added.
When Dr. Paul was asked why no radiologist has been posted in North and Middle Andaman, he stated that “no radiologists are available with the health department at present, not even at Port Blair. Radiologists are in great demand and no radiologist wants to join the department, although many come for interview. The Ministry sends medical specialists for every three months and the administration has also requested to increase the time period from three months to one year.”
When Dr. Paul was asked about why no gynaecologists are posted in North and Middle Andaman he stated that presently the Department has shortage of Gynaecologists.
“Presently there are two gynaecologists working in the department and both of them are at G.B Pant Hospital. We arrange regular visits of gynaecologists to the remote areas but it is difficult to post them as they are only two and they are required at G.B Pant. Recently Administration interviewed almost 16 specialist doctors in Delhi and nine were appointed but only one out of the nine joined the Health Department,” he said.
Speaking about the lack of doctors and other measures taken by the department, Dr. Paul said that out of the 50 posts of the Medical Specialists 39 posts are lying vacant.
“The Medical Specialists of the Department are under the Central Health Services and no specialists want to come to the Islands. However now we are taking up the matter with the health ministry and soon we will come out with some conclusion,” the Director of Health Services assured.
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