CHCs and PHCs [Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres]  in rural Rajasthan are facing shortages in resources as well as doctors.

Jaipur— While Rajasthan's government is claiming to provide better medical facilities in villages and dhanis [settlements making up a village], the condition ofCHCs, PHCs and sub-primary health centres, which form the backbone of medical services in remote areas, is gloomy. There is a shortage of resources as well as the number of doctors in the hospitals. Because of which patients have to face many challenges.

As part of its investigation of the government's claims, The Mooknayak's team on Wednesday visited the CHCin Malarna Dungar, which is the subdivisional headquarters of Sawai Madhopur district in eastern Rajasthan, and exposed the hollowness of the government's claims. It is noteworthy that Danish Abrar, who is the MLA for this area which has a significant minority population, is also an advisor to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot.

Six approved posts, but only one doctor

Two years ago, the state government constructed a new building for the hospital at a cost of Rs.4 crore. This led to rise in expectations among the local people of improved medical facilities with the appointment of specialist doctors, but nothing moved forward in accordance with their hopes. There are six posts for doctors sanctioned in the CHC, but as of now only one doctor works here. A locum doctor was also appointed as part of the work arrangements, but local people told us that he does not stay after the OPD. Hence, no doctor is available to attend to patients in cases of emergency.

Two doctors transferred to area did not join

The Rajasthan government recently issued an order transferring two doctors to the Malarna Dungar CHC, but even after a week of the government's order being passed, the doctors did not join the government hospital in Malarna Dungar. There is then only one doctor who is both managing the hospital and providing 24-hour care to the patients.

An X-ray machine, but no radiographer

There are seven small and bigger government hospitals in this area, that are located in Malarna Dungar sub-divisional headquarters and Malarna Chaud, Khirni, Bhadoti, Shesha, Maksoodan Pura and Malarna Station. The point to note is that among all of these, only the government hospital at Malarna Dungar subdivision headquarters has an X-ray machine. However, there is no radiographer to operate the machine. Akram Buniyad, State Secretary of the Youth Congress says that in this regard we ourselves have submitted a memorandum to the government several times, but no attention is being paid. A similar situation is usually seen in the Khandar, Bonli and Baman was CHCs and PHCs in this district.

What the medical officer said

A medical officer who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told us that, "None of the doctors who have been transferred [here] have joined so far. I have written letters to the senior officials several times. I am the only doctor here. A doctor has been appointed on a temporary contract under the [approved] work arrangements, but he also does not stay here after the OPD. I alone have to see to the patients with emergencies."