Health care includes Curative, Preventive and Promotive aspect and all these three are equally important. In all these, District Hospitals plays a frontline role where people come with various needs and expectations. Until recently private clinics and hospitals were not there and the Government District Hospitals was the only option. Even today for many people the District Hospital remains the only available and affordable place where they can take their patients.
The reason for this write up is to highlight to all concern that the need of the hour is to develop our District Hospitals, particularly in hospital manpower structuring and post creation for doctors, nurses, paramedics etc. This is not to say that CHC, PHC are less important but without a functional District Hospital in place CHCs, PHCs cannot function to its optimum. The solution requires creation of more post for doctors and redeploying of manpower etc. This will require the goodwill of both the government and the general public. It is time we realize and understand that mere up gradation of hospital bed strength and building health centers without corresponding post creation for manpower (doctors, nurses etc) does not help in health care delivery.
Some facts that has been observed is that, since 1970 there has been no significant post creation in the medical department particularly for doctors. Whereas through the years population has increased, people have become more health conscious and medical science has advanced tremendously. Interestingly, according to the data available the number of patients attended OPDs in 2011 stands at 852894, which is more than the whole population of Nagaland according to 1971 census (i.e. 516449).
Proposal for post creations for doctors and technical personals often faces road blocks with reasons like financial constraint, Govt. ban on post creation etc. whereas there is credible apprehensions that in the department there may be over appointments with IIIrd and VIth grade staffs at the wrong place. E.g. Health Centres existing with 4(four) to 5(five) IVth grade staff appointments without any technical Health personnel.
The bottom line is do we dare to dream? Will we be allowed to envision for well structured, well equipped hospitals for all our 11 districts? Is it wrong to ask for a Govt. Medical College for our state?
Dr Puse Liegise
President, Nagaland In Service Medical Doctors Association
