Two-and-half years after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy promised Rs. 1 crore for the development of Barkas Community Hospital, there is no sign of the grant. The announcement was made in February 2011 at the ‘Rachabanda’ programme held at Barkas playground.
In fact, some development work that requires a few thousand rupees is pending for want of funds. The 50-bed hospital handles about 800 outpatient cases a day and close to 300 inpatients every month. “We have not received any official communication in this regard,” says Hospital Superintendent Dr. Rajeev.
A facility for purified drinking water is missing here. The reverse osmosis plant was donated a few months ago by a Member of the Legislative Council, but it remains unused for want of money for its installation. “All that we require is about Rs. 30,000 to install it,” a hospital official said.
The list of pending work is long. A neonatal stabilisation unit (NSU) was introduced in January. But only radiant warmer machines and photo-therapy equipment are in use, while the remaining facilities have been kept in abeyance for want of money.
“It shows the interest of the public representatives in upgrading the hospital. They could have pressurised the authorities to release the funds,” says Obaid Ahmed, a local resident.
The hospital laboratory also awaits upgrading. At present, only a handful of diagnostic tests are done here, while patients are referred to other hospitals for major tests. The authorities also proposed to acquire an anaesthesia machine. The equipment is badly needed to handle cases of Caesarean deliveries.
Staff crunch is also a major issue at the hospital. At present, there are seven doctors, one gynaecologist, a dentist, two paediatricians, ophthalmologist and a pathologist, and all of them double up as general physicians and attend general outpatient duties in the morning.
People want the authorities to post a full-time gynaecologist at the hospital, while the staff feel posting an anaesthetist and civil surgeon will help make use of the fully equipped operation theatre.
“We have brought the short comings and requirements to the notice of the authorities and are awaiting their orders,” said Dr. Rajeev.
