Primary health centre has some infra, no staff to man them

Kapra: The only primary health centre (PHC) at the Kapra Circle in Jammigadda has a proper infrastructure and equipment but has no staff to operate them.

The health centre was opened in the year 2013 without staff. From the past several years this health centre has a total of only 3 staff members including a medical doctor, MNO and a lab technician. The locals have to visit the health centre in Keesara for treatment.

Speaking to the Hans India, Dr Venkatamani, medical doctor, Kapra said, "Since the beginning there is no staff. We had to come from the health centre of Malkajgiri and work at this health centre. We can hire radiologists but due to lack of funds we are unable to appoint them."

However, the medicines for the health centre have been given by the Telangana State Medical Services & Infrastructure Development Corporation (TSMSIDC). Also there is no pharmacist at the health centre to give medicines to the patients and maintain the records.

According to the GO of 2017 on 03 May, the government initiated to fill up 10 sanctioned posts including civil assistant surgeon, public health nurse, staff nurse, pharmacist, lab technician and multipurpose health extension officer in every PHC's of the city. Later a new order wasissued on April 25 which stated that a total of 8 sanctioned posts including civil assistant surgeon, staff nurse, pharmacist and lab technician would be filled in the PHC's.

Talking about the same, Dr Venkatamani said, "According to the government orders implemented from the past 2 years, there needs to be enough staff in the PHC. But opposite is the condition of the staff in this PHC. Due to lack of staff, an agent from IPM Narayanguda comes and collects the blood samples and the report is sent online to us. Even after having machines such as an ECG, due to lack of staff we are unable to use them."

The doctors of this PHC have also organised several awareness programmes and free health check-up camps for non-communicable diseases to make people aware about visiting the health centre especially for the poor people who have to spend a lot of their money in the private clinics to get cured.