Primary health centres in Kothagudem likely to face shortage of doctors

Primary health centres (PHCs) in Kothagudem district are set to face a severe shortage of doctors as 32 out of 65 medical officers are leaving to pursue postgraduate courses. With only 28 doctors remaining, many PHCs, especially those in remote agency areas, will be managed by nurses and support staff.

Kothagudem: Primary health centres in the district are likely to face a shortage of doctors as a majority of doctors serving at those health facilities are being relieved allowing them to pursue PG courses.

According to the officials, there are 34 primary health centres (PHCs) in the district and each PHC should have two doctors. Of these, 24 PHCs are 24-hour hospitals which require two to three doctors to treat patients. Most of the PHCs are located in remote agency areas.

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Out of the 65 doctors serving at the PHCs 32 are going to pursue PG courses and they would be relieved from service by the end of March. Of the remaining 33 doctors five are programme officers, who would be engaged in managing, monitoring and implementing public health initiatives such as the
National Health Mission (NHM), immunisation and disease control.

As a result only 28 doctors would be available to take care of patients at the PHCs. Many of the PHCs would have to be looked after by staff nurses and medical staff.

The public often complain of poor services at the rural health facilities and with the absence of half of the doctors it might be difficult for people to avail health services and would be forced to depend on RMPs, an adivasi activist Punem Prashanth noted.

Referring to the matter, the district medical and health officer Dr. Tukaram Rathod informed that as many doctors are being relieved, a letter has been written to the higher authorities for the appointment of contract doctors in their place.

Once orders are received from them, steps would be taken to issue a notification for the appointment of doctors with the instructions of the district Collector. Measures would be taken to provide better health services with the existing medical officers, he added.