Public Health Care Delivery System in the Union Territory of Puducherry.


Public Health Care Delivery System in the Union Territory of Puducherry- A few hard facts.
The Union Territory of Puducherry declares itself as proud and reeling out statistics, amongst other things, having two Hospitals and a Medical College under the Government Sector.One more Women and Children Hospital also in its fold.However, their performance are gradually declining.

 Sanitation
 In the first instance, the sanitation in and around the Hospitals need improvement, in relation to the number of patients visiting daily for treatment and their companions.The pathetic condition prevailing in the Ampitheatre/Mortuary are worth indicating.The Section is ill-equipped and often the people in duty fleece the relatives of the dead inhumanely.

 Duty Doctors
The Doctors on duty during OPD hours are not punctual.They have their own time.Except some conscious people, others, especially Specialists are available in Private Medical Institutions on appointment.Disappointed patients from for and near have to run from pillar to post for treatment and follow up. Specialty cases are frantic and often get postponed or deferred.In a tacit and tactical way they are driven to Private Nursing Homes to fend for themselves. 

 The affected and aggrieved have hundreds of such real stories.That is the reason for mushrooming of quite a number of Clinics, Labs and Nursing Homes like fast food centres in the Union Territory.Are they recognized or having  required infrastructure, facilities and transparent?. whether,the Medical Directorate or the Secretary to the Government conduct inspection and verify their credentials is another point worth considering.Public Money spent on salaries and others do not have yielded better results in return to people.

 The Investigation apparatus like different types of Scans- MRI Ultrasonography, Echo- cardiogram, etc,. are not reported as functional.Patients are instructed to get it done from Private Investigators are on the increase.Even dispensing of Medicines are not satisfactory.The much publicized, media covered, Cardio-Care joint venture programme by aligning with the Specialists from Chennai now discontinued for the reasons known to the establishment.Yet to claim as the better health care provider is an anathema.

 Closure of the Dialysis Unit at Kathirkamam Government General Hospital after the 'Medical Murder' of three Patients last year not opened till date.Patients suffering from Kidney diseases and requiring dialysis are shuttled to peripheral private clinics to fatten their purse.Neither the Health Ministry nor the Government has taken any effective steps to open the Unit in order to cater to the needs of the poor and needy patients.Datas speak volumes about the plight and continuing woes of such patients in deep desperation.

 Medical Negligence
Reported and unreported cases of Medical Negligence and Deficiency in Service are on the rise in the Union Territory.While some raise against the odds and protest, their voices are stifled by the Authorities.Police often enter the scene and compromise the issues. The aggrieved do not get any relief or solace for the victims.Most of them are innocent and do not have the resilience to carry out the struggle. Some of them have the bitter experience of corrupt practices tasted from so called social action groups and authorities in uniform.

 Bio-Medical Waste Treatment

 In the initial years, when there were the Government General Hospital and Government Maternity Hospital near the Assembly, a Waste Treatment Plant was setup with rudimentary facilities at Indira Nagar, Gorimedu. Now, there are three Government Hospitals and the volume of patients have increased manifold and with the existing ill-equipped Waste Treatment Plant, the desired objectives prescribed by the Environment Act and Rules could not be achieved.

 It is given to understand only the incinerator facility is available and facilities for deep burial, segregation of wastes in separate bags of differing sizes and colours as prescribed not displayed inside the Hospital and done accordingly.The Medical Directorate in this regard also not proactive and progressive and continue to lie low.

 One can pay a visit and have a first hand information of the sorry state of affairs in the Hospitals.Even a casual enquiry and inspection would reveal the bare facts of anomaly and disquieting features existing in the Public Health Delivery System.There are other problems of disturbing and worrying facts of catering provided to  in-patients in the Hospitals. 

 The quality and quantity of  diets provided  have to be impartially and independently checked for their merits.A positive suggestion in this regard would be to appoint a non-official committe drawn from citizens with integrity and service-minded to supervise the Health Care Delivery System in the Union Territory. would they mend their ways?





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