Dearth of doctors at Colvin Hospital

MEDICINE AND Surgery, the two vital departments which are considered the life-line of any hospital may soon close at the regional Moti Lal Nehru (Colvin) Hospital, thanks to the State's existing Provincial Medical Service (PMS) transfer policy. The State Government was although quick to transfer the PMS doctors posted at the Colvin Hospital to avoid court's contempt, but it failed to make the postings with equal speed to fill the vacant posts for smooth functioning of the hospital.

In the absence of doctors, the surgeries and OPD services have been seriously affected at the Colvin Hospital since the transfer of surgeons.

Before the transfer of three surgeons, daily 25 to 30 major and minor surgeries were conducted at the Colvin Hospital. But after the transfer of Dr SK Singh, Dr Sujeet Singh and Dr Upadhyaya, no postings have been made till date on the vacant posts. Consequently, the number of surgeries have reportedly dropped from 30 to only four to five daily. Dr VK Singh is the only surgeon in the hospital handling the Surgery Department.

Similarly, after the transfer of Dr SK Updhyaya to Azamgarh and deputation of Dr Mushtaq Ahmed to the High Court's dispensary, the Medicine Department is facing acute crisis of doctors. In the absence of physicians, many patients are being referred to other the hospitals. Unable to handle the patients' load with handful of doctors in the hospital, the hospital management is reportedly considering the proposal to temporarily close the Medicine and Surgery Departments.

The hospital sources said the State government has delayed the transfer and posting of doctors at the Colvin despite the fact that of the total OPD of 800 to 900 patients daily, more than 50 per cent patients report to Surgery and Medicine departments.

Colvin Hospital's chief medical superintendent Dr SJ Singh said they were facing shortage of doctors due to transfers. But things were expected to become normal within a week. "However, if further delay is made in making postings in the Surgery and Medicine departments, the functioning of these departments would be seriously affected," he added.

Dr Singh said in the absence of doctors he was also managing the medicine and cardiac patients.