Health department runs without district health officer

In a season where health risks such as dengue and malaria loom large,the district health department has been doing without a regular district health officer. It is another matter that the department is also facing a lot of other troubles like the recent ANMs issue and employees protests for the non-payment of salaries.

The district health officer,Dr SS Dhir,retired on August 31,but there has been no permanent appointment in his place. Civil Surgeon Dr Maninderjit Singh,who has assumed the office recently and is new to the city and its health scenario,has appointed senior medical officer Dr US Sooch posted at Raikot Civil Hospital,as the officiating district health officer. According to sources,the post of District Health officer is considered to be decided at the political level too,hence the reason for the delay. It has been learnt that Dr Sooch has been shuffling between his duties as SMO at Raikot and DHO in Ludhiana. He,however,was not available for comments.

As a key post lying vacant at the civil surgeon’s office,the department is grappling with the workload in the office of civil surgeon,especially in the view of seasonal diseases threat. When asked,the civil surgeon said he could comment anything on the appointment of District Health Officer. “I have appointed Dr Sooch as the officiating DHO to discharge the duties of DHO. Also,because it is a season which is crucial from health point of view and there have also been ANMs issue keeping us occupied for other official work like prevention of dengue,” Dr Maninderjit Singh said.