The HIV prevention programme in the State, which had been hit severely in the last few months due to lack of funds, has come to a virtual standstill with more than half of the 64 anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centres functioning without doctors. Patients visiting the ART centres are forced to manage with counsellors and paramedical staff.
To make matters worse, the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) recently relieved 37 doctors from the ART centres as they had crossed superannuation age. This follows a recent Government Order, which does not permit retired employees to work in sanctioned posts even on contract.
Vijayapura, Bagalkot
worst-hit
Sources in ART centres of Vijayapura and Bagalkot told The Hindu that although these districts have been identified as high-risk districts apart from Belagavi and other areas in north Karnataka, paucity of doctors has been a perennial problem here. While none of the four ART centres in Vijayapura has a doctor, the ART centre in Jhamkandi in Bagalkot (which has recorded the highest prevalence of HIV) does not have a doctor.
This apart, nearly 30 other centres have been managing without doctors for the past six to 12 months. “Now, with the relieving of 37 doctors, more than half of the total 127 sanctioned posts in ART centres will be left vacant. The patients have been left in the lurch as they are unwilling to visit general doctors mainly because of discrimination. Moreover, general doctors in government hospitals refuse to see HIV patients on the pretext that they are not trained to handle HIV cases,” said a source.
Thyagaraju D.T., KSAPS Assistant Director (Care, Support and Treatment), who admitted that doctors shortage is hitting patients hard, said the officials had requested the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms (DPAR) to exempt KSAPS from implementing the order.
“As the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) has fixed a salary of Rs. 35,000 for a Medical Officer in an ART centre, there are hardly any takers for this post from the younger group. Now, if we have to relieve retired doctors (who had been hired on contract basis). I agree it will create havoc at the ART centres. We are hopeful that the DPAR will consider our request in the next few days,” he said.
Health Commissioner P.S. Vastrad said alternative arrangements would be made to ensure that patients are not hit. “As it is a general order and not specifically for doctors, we are hopeful of finding a solution shortly,” he said.
No salaries for two months
Salaries of contract employees in KSAPS have not been released for the last two months. Although officials say the salaries for February was released two days ago, most are yet to get them.
“This has been a regular problem in the last one year. NACO had sanctioned an annual hike to contractual personnel with effect from April 14, 2015. Forget the hike, we are not even getting our regular salaries,” said Fayaz Ahmed M, senior counsellor at the ART centre in Ramanagaram District Hospital.
Admitting to the delay in payments, a top official said although NACO had released funds, there was a delay in getting it released from the State treasury because of procedural problems.
Dismal situation
Anti-retroviral centres in State: 64
No. of sanctioned posts at centres: 127
Current vacancy: over 30
Doctors being relieved following a GO: 37
Not one doctor at the centres in Vijayapura, which
is a high-risk district
