ayush doctor on contract

26.04.2011 The health services in government hospitals across the state have been badly hit due to staff crunch due to the failure of the state health department to renew the annual agreement of 2,500 contractual doctors. The last agreement ended on March 31 this year.

The renewal of contracts was stalled across the state after the directorate of family welfare issued a circular on April 13, directing the chief medical officers (CMOs) not to renew the agreements till further orders. Hours after the TOI contacted the directorate officials on Monday afternoon for comments on the issue, there were reports that the department had started the process of renewing some contracts. By late evening it was confirmed that the renewal was limited to 50-odd allopathy doctors and that too only for next two months. There was, however, no word on the fate of the remaining 2450 doctors.

Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital is the worst affected. Against a sanctioned strength of 101 doctors, the hospital has 82 doctors on duty. Before the government's decision, it had 10 contractual doctors, including a neurosurgeon and a neurophysician.

Since these neuro doctors are not coming now, RML's trauma centre and neuro out patient department (OPD) have been shut. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is also on the verge of closure even as doctors struggle to keep the blood bank and pathology services running round the clock. "We have already informed the government about how all this is affecting us,'' chief medical superintendent, RML Hospital, Dr RS Dubey said.

Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil hospital too has been hit. The hospital has only 59 doctors working against a sanctioned strength of 74. Pathology laboratories and blood banks no longer offer 24-hour services. "We had four contractual doctors who were running these two units. Their absence is affecting work,'' chief medical superintendent Dr EU Siddiqui said.

Work at other hospitals is similarly affected. There are 23 contractual doctors working in Balrampur, Dufferin, Mahila Civil, Raj Narain and Rani Lakshmi Bai hospitals in Lucknow. Even the functioning of community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) is suffering with contracts of ayush doctors and pharmacists also awaiting clearance.

"Vaccination and national programmes including polio are suffering because of this delay. With the impending epidemic season, the health scenario can worsen,'' Shailendra Yogi, president of the association representing contractual staff, said. "If this is the condition in Lucknow, things would be worse in other districts,'' he added.

Uttar Pradesh has nearly 2500 contractual doctors in allopathy and ayush streams. The department has also engaged an equal number of pharmacists for distribution of medicines. In view of the shortage, this number assumes significance. "Against a sanctioned strength of 13,793, about 8,500 doctors are working. But the real working strength is of some 7,000 doctors,'' said Dr DR Singh, president, Provincial Medical Services Association.

Director general, family welfare, Dr Ramji Lal said, "The salary of all contractual staff comes from the Union government funds provided under National Rural Health Mission. This year, the funds are yet to be sanctioned. We understand the crisis, but there is little we can do.''

Asked when the funds are likely to arrive, Dr Lal said it depends entirely on the Union health ministry.

For redressal of their concerns, the contractual doctors association had moved the court in the second week of April.
who is guilt ? the Govt. or Public?