Six Primary Health Centres (PHCs), which were inaugurated in Madurai district last year, are still functioning without fulltime staff nurses.
According to district health authorities, the State Government has appointed only doctors so far but it has not appointed nurses for the PHCS which were sanctioned in February last year.
The six PHCs still waiting for appointment of staff nurses are: Villur (Kallikudi block); Kaithari Nagar (Tirupparankundram block); Sakkimangalam (Madurai East block); Thankkankulam (Thirupparankundram block); Nattapatti (Chellampatti block) and Muduvarpatti (Alanganallur block).
“Nurses are coming on deputation from other places based on availability and requirement. We are adjusting right now. But, there is an urgent requirement of staff nurses for each PHC,” a senior district official told The Hindu on Saturday.
Another PHC which was inaugurated at A. Vellalapatti in November last year for the benefit of people in Melur-Alanganallur stretch was also in need of staff nurses, the health officials said.
“For these seven PHCs put together, 21 staff nurses have to be appointed. It will be difficult to function on a temporary arrangement,” A. Palanichamy, Deputy Director of Health Services, said when contacted.
Steps have been initiated to construct buildings for the seven PHCs sanctioned last year.
Meanwhile, the district health authorities have submitted detailed proposals to the State Government for opening five more PHCs.
The proposals are for Sandhaiyur, Kalimangalam, Chithalangudi, Naganakulam and Aanaiyur. Plan to start a PHC at Vandiyur is also under consideration.
“People in these localities have to travel long distance for medical attention. It is for their convenience we have suggested setting up PHCs in these places,” Dr. Palanichamy said.
There were now 49 PHC in the district and the proposals for further requirements were explained to the Assembly Estimates Committee which visited the district in November.
Officials said that the proposal for starting a PHC at Kalimangalam had come from A. Tamilarasi, Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare.
