Sarthak Kanjilal
Port Blair, May 23: The urban health centres were opened by Administration to take health care facilities to the door steps of people living in remote pockets of urban areas but most of these Urban Health Centres buildings remain as a mere first-aid centre.
Residents living in remote pockets of urban areas allege that hardly any doctors visit these UHCs on scheduled dates, forcing patients to travel all the way to G.B. Pant to see a doctor.
As per norms, schedule for the visit of doctors in these UHCs are prepared on regular basis but the schedules are hardly followed.
After receiving complaint when Andaman Sheekha team visited UHC Shadipur yesterday, it was found that there was no doctor in the UHC, though Tuesday was the day for Doctor’s visit. It was also found that dozens of patients were waiting for Doctor anxiously.
When contacted a senior officer of Health Department said that this happens due to severe shortage doctors in A & N Islands.
“Because of summer vacation 3 to 4 doctors are already on leave and 5 to 6 other doctors are also preceding leave soon, 4 doctors are in duty-cum-tour, 2 have taken VRS,” the senior doctor told Andaman Sheekha on the condition of anonymity.
The doctor added that doctors, who are doing night shifts in G.B. Pant, get morning off, so it’s becoming difficult to adjust Doctors for UHCs during summer vacation.
“As soon as doctors will be back in service, we will immediately place Doctors in UHCs,” she added.
However resident living in remote pockets of urban area allege that this is a regular practice of Doctors to stay away from UHCs throughout the year. “Vacation is just an excuse. Dozens of reports have been published by local media in this regard, which proves that vacation is not the reason behind this,” said a resident of Shadipur.
