The patients depending on the community health centre (CHC) at Soro, are deprived of minimum health care facilities due to the absence of doctors. It is the most prominent CHC of the district and a first referral hospital for other CHCs and PHCs, noted a doctor Hemant Kumar Roul.
According to him, on an average about 500-600 patients visit the CHC in a day. The number of sanctioned posts of doctors is six but only two are posted.
“Currently, besides me another medicine specialist is available in the CHC.” he said. “There are no regular doctors for gynaecology, paediatric and surgery.
The gynaecology department is managed by a contractual doctor, a surgery specialist is on deputation,” added doctor Roul. “There is an urgent requirement of an anaesthetist and a trained doctor for blood bank of the CHC.
The situation is very difficult to manage since this is the referral hospital for all the PHCs and CHCs at Simulia, Khaira, Oupada, Gopalpur and neighbouring Basudevpur of Bhadrak,” he said.
“The blood bank is defunct in the absence of trained doctor. The difficulties due to want of doctors are being apprised to the chief district medical officer.”
“It is a major health care centre for south Balasore. But non-availability of specialists is an impediment. People continue to suffer and are exploited financially in the hands of the quacks and unqualified doctors,” said a resident of Soro, Sudhansu Nayak.
The chief district medical officer, Bibekananda Das, besides stating that he is aware of the paucity of doctors in the community health centre said he was not finding doctors to post in the centre.