14,500 malnourished kids, no doctors

Shortage of specialist doctors, including paediatricians, gynaecologists and anaesthetists, plague the Melghat area of Amravati district, where 14,500 malnourished children are in need of medical attention. The state government’s appeal to specialty doctors to come forward and work in the tribal area at an increased remuneration of Rs1lakh has fallen on deaf ears.

In July, the state government issued an advertisement stating that it is willing to increase the remuneration of specialty doctors from Rs40,000 per month to Rs1 lakh, so that tribal women and children in the Melghat area could get the best possible treatment. Till now, the Directorate of Health Services has received 47 applications from (general) doctors, but only one anaesthetist has offered his services, albeit with the condition that he will only work in the 50-bed hospital at Chikaldhara.

Civil surgeon, Dr CL Sonkusare says, “There are two 30-bed hospitals at Churni and Dharni villages in Melghat and one 50-bed hospital at Chikaldhara. The two 30-bed hospitals have two paediatricians and no gynaecologist or anaesthetist. Every Friday, a gynaecologist is sent from Amravati government hospital to these hospitals. During emergencies, however, patients have to come to the government hospital in Amravati.”

As per state government norms, in the absence of specialists, a medical officer is the sole in-charge of the hospitals at Churni, Dharni and Chikaldhara, unlike in urban areas. Sonkusare says, “Even if gynaecologists and paediatricians are appointed, they won’t be of much use as they are helpless without the presence of an anaesthetist.”

The newly appointed nodal officer P Pradeep, who is coordinating among nine government departments to ease the problems of the tribal population of the Melghat, said the Bombay High Court during the last hearing that there is a shortage of specialist doctors and that the process of appointing them is underway.

Speaking to DNA, P Pradeep said “We have started a diagnostic camp in the area under the supervision of Dr Janki Borkar and we expect specialist doctors to visit these camps and provide the necessary medical help.” District health officer Dr Raj Paradkar, who is coordinating these diagnostic camps, said, “There are 44 camps planned to be organised between September and October. The results are encouraging.”

He added, “Not many specialist doctors want to permanently be posted in tribal areas. But some of them, who feel socially responsible, are coming forward to help the rural people in need. We have limited the strength of patient intake to 50 per camp, so that the doctors are not overburdened and patients are given due attention and care.”