Sambalpur: Vimsar Doctor Crisis, when permanent doctors will be appointed?

BURLA: There is no permanent recruitment process for doctors at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medicine and Research (Vimsar). As a result, contract doctors are being posted in many departments, but that too is like a feather in the sea. Even though Vimsari has been under government since 2015, no improvement has been observed in the condition of the hospital. There is a shortage of doctors in many departments. Especially in the radiology department among the critical departments, the shortage of doctors is seriously affecting the medical services. While there are 16 approved posts in the radiology department, the department is running on the hope of only 4 doctors. As a result, some examinations cannot be done within 24 hours. As per the approval, the radiology department should have one professor, 3 associate professors, 4 assistant professors, and 6 senior resident doctors, but one head of the department, Prof. Brajbihari Panda, and 3 other assistant professors (on contract).

One of the three major medical centers of Odisha, Vimsar has not got all the privileges of autonomous status. As a result, the sanatoriums of Vimsar are still not fully equipped in the field of treatment and have further deteriorated. The radiology department has several important testing equipment and has a valid license for this equipment. But the issue cannot be ignored as the term of office of the head of department is coming to an end and the contract doctors may consider their career and move elsewhere for permanent appointment through OPSC. Only time will tell what happens next in the radiology department. It is felt in the conscious quarters that the contract doctors stationed at Vimsar Hospital who are willing to be re-employed at least temporarily in Vimsar Hospital. Some other departments are also on the brink of being crippled, such as the Nephrology department, which has only one contract doctor and endologist. Since last year 2017, despite the government’s green signal to open 5 new departments of super specialty, the opening of 5 new departments has been limited to paper pens only. Doctors cannot be accommodated in those departments. One of the oldest institutes in the state, Veer Surendra Sai Ayurveda, will remain vacant due to its dedication to Ayurvedic science and research. It is widely believed that the real goal in healthcare can be achieved by filling doctor posts.