Bhopal: Public health is not on the priority list of incumbent state government. Hundreds of posts are lying vacant from state and district hospitals to primary health centres. The vacancies are taking a toll on public health services. Most of the top posts too are either lying vacant or are being taken care of on ad hoc basis. Though Pallavi Jain has been promoted as principal secretary, she continues to hold charge of commissioner. Post of director, health services, too is lying vacant.
The director also acts as managing director MPPHSCL, Office Establishment, Gazetted, Non Gazetted, Medicine Procurement Cell, Building Division, Development & Planning. The post fell vacant after IAS officer B Dhanraju was transferred as collector six months back. Director, National Health Mission too was lying vacant till Tuesday when Indore collector Nishant Warwade was posted on it.
As if that is not all, three out of five posts of medical directors are currently lying vacant. One of the three directors Dr JL Agarwal will superannuate on December 31, leaving the department with only one director Dr BN Chouhan . He too is set to retire in May next year. A large number of posts are lying vacant in PHC, CHC and district hospitals too. Besides, Around 10,000 posts of specialist doctors, medical officers, MPW, staff nurse, technicians, ANM, ward boy, sweepers and others are lying vacant. Contd. on P10 Retired director Dr KL Sahu blamed government’s apathy for the poor state of health services. “The state stopped recruitment and went for contractual employees. It has compromised quality of services,”
“The salaries are not in sync with private sector. Promotions are delayed and so is time scale. All this has kept young blood away,” he added. He described ward boys and sweepers as dying cadre. The PHCs and CHCs are struggling to function. Retired director Dr KL Sahu blamed government’s apathy for the poor state of health services. “The state stopped recruitment and went for contractual employees. It has compromised quality of services,” “The salaries are not in sync with private sector. Promotions are delayed and so is time scale. All this has kept young blood away,” he added. He described ward boys and sweepers as dying cadre. The PHCs and CHCs are struggling to function.
By line: Rajesh Thakur
