Staff Correspondent
Port Blair, Apt 21: The department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services is reportedly becoming a sick unit of its own. Recent death of pet animals indicates that the Goal Ghar Veterinary Hospital which is considered as referral hospital is running short of medicines and experienced Doctors.
Sources say that lack of good diagnostic facility is the main problem behind the mess. Doctors here are compelled to treat on assumption based on symptoms instead of proper diagnosis. Even though there is an X-ray unit in this Hospital, it is only meant for the mighty and powerful.
It is not that this Hospital has no support unit. The polyclinic at Dollygunj has a well-equipped “Animal Disease diagnostic Laboratory”, but no case is referred to this polyclinic. The lone Doctor posted here does not have enough supporting staff to do the desired job. In this polyclinic also there is an X-ray machine. But it is kept idle. There is also a well-equipped laboratory to diagnose any disease. But this Laboratory is of no use to pet lovers and livestock owners as it is left to denigrate.
The credibility of this big department with well qualified staffs is under clout due to lack of proper management. If the Secretary (Animal Husbandry) is serious about the welfare of those who cannot speak about themselves, then he should order an inquiry into functioning of polyclinic at Dollygunj in an unprofessional manner.
An action to post a qualified and experienced Senior Veterinary Surgeon as head of this Polyclinic will help in saving the life of many pet animals and livestock. It will also ensure that the Doctors have a good supporting unit to diagnose the disease and treat the animal rather than treating an animal based on his gut instinct and symptoms which generally leads to wrong treatment.
It will be better if the trend of Posting qualified and experienced Doctors in Directorate of Animal Husbandry for high profile clerical work needs to be given away with, to ensure that their professional expertise is used in the field rather than wasting it on files.
When Contacted the Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services Dr. S Shiva Kumar said that Doctors are always present in the hospital at Goal Ghar only in Holidays they come for 9.00 am to 11.00 am however they are always in call. About Medicines the Director said that the department focuses on keeping medicines for livestock more than pets. However essential medicines for pets are kept in the hospital. Regarding polyclinic he said that the X-Ray and Ultrasound machines are working and there is a technician also. However he said that the department faces shortage of staffs, which often leads to various problems.
