Orissa High Court expresses deep concerns over dismal health infrastructure in Kalahandi, Nabarangpur districts

In many places, a single doctor or a pharmacist, was found running the entire community health centre.

The Orissa High Court has expressed deep concerns over the pathetic conditions of public health centres in Kalahandi and Nabarangpur districts.  

The damning report submitted by the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) says in many places a single doctor or worse still, a pharmacist, was found running the entire community health centre and the patients were forced to seek private medical care at unaffordable personal expense.

Besides, unavailability of basic medical health infrastructure too X-ray, ECG and ultra sound was also a cause of concern.

A division Bench comprising Chief Justice S. Muralidhar and Judge M. S. Raman went through report of DLSAs that came up with reports by visiting every CHC and by sampling situation of Public Health Centres.

“Stating that the reports depicted a dismal picture of the State of public health services in Kalahandi and Nabarangpur,” the Bench said, “while the dire situation that existed during the COVID-19 pandemic may now have eased, the fact remains that the basic problems impeding public health infrastructure are unaddressed.”

Sufficient medical personnel, nurses and staff were not found not only at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHHs) in both districts but also at the CHCs and PHCS tahasils and blocks of the both districts.

“The bed capacities are inadequate. The buildings in several places are in a dilapidated condition. In many places a single doctor or worse still, a pharamcist, was found running the entire CHC and the patients were forced to seek private medical care at unaffordable personal expense,” judges noted.