John Wilbert & Saurabh Singh
Port Blair, Jun 13: The patients of the Katchal Island have been witnessing shortage of Lab Technicians in PHC Katchal for more than three years. As the general public of the entire Katchal region relies on this single PHC, it has raised an urgent need for action by A&N Administration to resolve this crucial issue of the remote Island.
A resident of Katchal islands, told Andaman Sheekhathat in absence of a Lab Technician technician, the patients have to travel to either Port Blair or Car Nicobar for Lab test reports, which becomes troublesome due to the unavailability of boat services.
He added that since the last three years senior political leaders oftheseIslands are demanding lab technicians but the Directorate ofHealth Service has not fulfilled the demand of the people of Katchalregion yet.
He requested the Directorate of Health Services to intervene in this matter and provide some relief for the people of the Katchal Islands.
When Andaman Sheekha Daily contacted a senior officer of the Directorate of Health Services, it was informed that they have already transferred several lab technicians to Katchal Island but these appointed lab technicians are reluctant to report duty in Nicobar District.
It was also conveyed that the transferred lab technicians often showcase their medical condition to not join the duty in these distant districts due to which the PHC like Katchal has a shortage of staff which creates inconvenience to the general public.
“We have sent the report to the Medical Board against the alleged lab technicians who do not join duty even after transfer orders by referring their medical conditions for further investigation”, the senior officer added.
