Ayurvedic hospitals yet to get Govt attention

JAGATSINGHPUR: Ayurvedic hospitals in the district are plagued by manpower crisis, poor infrastructure and inadequate supply of medicines. According to sources, there are 10 Government-run Ayurvedic hospitals in the district. Besides, 37 Ayurveda practitioners cater to patients at different AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy) centres under National Health Mission.

Patients getting admitted to the hospital at Gangadahat under Deriki panchayat of Naugaon block are an unhappy lot. They are sore over the hospital’s poor maintenance. Established in 1960, the hospital stands dilapidated with broken doors and windows. It has apparently failed to provide medicines to the patients owing to non-supply of free medicines for the past three to four years. The patients alleged that a doctor visits the hospital only twice a week.

Several doctor posts are lying vacant at Olara, Madhuribazar and Deulishai Ayurvedic  Hospitals. These hospitals have been placed under the supervision of doctors from other centres. Owing to staff crunch, the doctors usually supervise two to three hospitals. Therefore, they visit a particular hospital twice a week, sources said.

Grappling with such issues, the hospitals are unable to provide quality services to patients seeking medical help from Ayurveda, Panchakarma, and therapies for spine and bone.Non-conservation of medicinal plants in these areas has added to owes of the patients. “No step has been taken to grow medicinal herbs and develop space for gardening in these hospitals  due to paucity of funds and lack of interest on the part of health officials,” the sources said.

Secretary of AYUSH Doctors’ Association Sarojkant Barik said there are 23 Ayurvedic  doctors and 21 practitioners of homeopathy and one Unani specialist in the district. He admitting that they were unable to carry out their duty satisfactorily for poor supply of medicines.District Ayurvedic Medical Officer Nirupama Devi expressed her concern over the appalling condition of the hospitals. She said financial shortcomings have prevented the doctors from growing herbs, which could have otherwise solved the medicine crisis.