Where many doctors are absent for years

An MBBS doctor posted in Mewat is given a special incentive of Rs 10,000 per month, while a specialist doctor is given Rs 25,000 per month, as per the guidelines of the Haryana government.

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On April 6, a total of 20 doctors were absent from duty in Narnaul district. Five are from the Civil Hospital. One has been ‘absent’ since 2012, two since 2013, and two since October 2015.

As specialist doctors are either absent or their posts are lying vacant, many cases are referred to PGI Rohtak. In March, as many as 95 cases from OPD, and 66 admitted patients were referred from the hospital.

“Aur sab to theek hai, par refer kar dete hain zyada. Bheed bhi kaafi hoti hai. A few doctors are not available,” said Mahender, while he waited in a long queue outside the Skin OPD, which witnesses a huge rush every day.

In 2014, the Emergency ward was relocated to the new building but the surgical, gynaecology wards and OPDs run from the old building facing pothole-riddled roads.

On a recent visit to the hospital, the ramp near the gynaecology ward leading to the first floor where surgeries are conducted was filthy. Stray dogs were sleeping on it and an unbearable pungent smell rose from it.

On an average, 600 babies are born in the hospital per month. In the absence of doctors, they are delivered by lady medical officers who have undergone Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) training. There is only one gynaecologist in the hospital. If the specialist is absent, cases requiring surgeries, including for caesarians, are referred.

The hospital boasts of a Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) for treatment of pre-mature babies, but out of total 20 radiant warmers, 8 cannot be used, as they have developed faults. With over 13 newborn babies required to be admitted in the unit, the staff is compelled to keep two babies in one radiant warmer. Out of 7 photo-therapy machines used for jaundice treatment, two are non-functional.

There is no water supply in the toilets since the last several days. There is also a problem with the hospital’s sewerage system. Patients and their family members were enquiring in nearby shops and houses about the nearest toilet facilities. “They (authorities) have not been able to repair the sewerage problem, or provide water in toilets, and they are talking about making functioning online and give wifi. Provide basic facilities, first,” said Varinder Jatu, a patient’s relative.

Civil Surgeon Dr Ashok Kumar said, “An underground pipe was broken due to which there is a sewerage problem. It will be fixed We had called a bio-medical engineer from Rewari to repair the machines, but he has not visited yet.