Chamba gets regular AYUSH Officer after a year-long gap
Doctor
Chamba: After nearly a year, the district has appointed a regular District AYUSH Officer, with Dr. Anita Kumari taking charge at the District Ayurvedic Hospital in Baloo. The move is expected to improve the AYUSH healthcare services in the region.
For the past year, the responsibility of overseeing AYUSH services in the district was handled on an additional charge basis by officers posted in Paprola and Tunuhatti, reports Amar Ujala. Since these officers were already managing their primary duties at their respective locations, they were unable to devote adequate time and attention to the needs of Chamba. This arrangement resulted in administrative inefficiencies, delayed decision-making and a visible impact on patient care.
The absence of a full-time District AYUSH Officer further compounded the problem, as there was no dedicated authority to monitor services, address complaints or ensure proper coordination across healthcare centres.
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The practice of assigning additional responsibilities instead of making permanent appointments drew criticism, as it weakened accountability and hindered the smooth functioning of the department. Many facilities struggled to operate at full capacity due to a lack of supervision and manpower.
With a regular officer now appointed, patients and local residents finally have a direct point of contact for AYUSH-related issues. It is expected that concerns such as staff shortages, irregular services and infrastructural gaps will now be communicated more effectively to the government and addressed promptly.
One of the most pressing issues has been the underutilisation of the district Ayurvedic hospital. Despite having approval for 50 beds, only around 15 beds were functional due to limited staff and resources. This mismatch between capacity and service delivery has long affected patient care. With the new appointment, there is renewed optimism that these gaps will be addressed, resources will be better managed, and healthcare services will gradually expand to meet the approved capacity.
