Tamil Nadu: 52 of 152 doctor posts lying vacant, services hampered at Upgraded Primary Health Centre

Keezhapavur: The patient care at the Upgraded Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Ariyappapuram of Keezhapavur block has come under hindrance after the Tamil Nadu health department cut short the number of doctors at the hospital. 

The hospital has stopped performing ultrasound scans and blood tests said the patients and pregnant women who were present in the hospital. 

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The patients said that the hundreds of patients who visited the hospital were being catered by one doctor and a few other staff members. Speaking to The New Indian Express, the patients said, "Three doctors were present two weeks ago to treat patients from nearby villages. They also performed ultrasound scans and blood tests, particularly for pregnant women. However, the women are diverted to nearby block-level PHC or Tenkasi Government District Headquarters Hospital for an ultrasound scan. Children, who have fever, are sent to other government hospitals for blood tests." 

According to a health official, around 52 posts out of the total 152 doctors posts are lying vacant in the Tenkasi district. The official said, "Most of these doctors left their job to pursue their PG course. A few of them are on medical leave. However, we are ensuring that a sufficient number of doctors are available and all mandatory tests are done in block-level PHCs." 

However, the official added that the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Recruitment Board is involved in filling the vacant posts of doctors and other staff. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported about the Tamil Nadu health department's act of forcefully making government doctors agree to dual postings ahead of an inspection by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The Legal Coordination Committee for Government Doctors pointed out how the doctors are being transferred by the government on a temporary basis to show that there are no vacancies at the newly set up medical institutes. 

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