Balasore: The community health centre (CHC) in Soro does not have enough doctors and this has resulted in the villagers depending on unqualified doctors and village quacks.

The CHC is the first referral hospital for 25 other CHCs and public health centres in Soro, says the centre's in-charge Hemant Kumar Roul.

The centre, which caters to 500 to 600 patients every day, has only two regular doctors against the sanctioned strength of six.

"Apart from me, there is only another medicine specialist available at the CHC now. There is no regular doctor for gynaecology, paediatrics and surgery. While the gynaecology unit is managed by a contractual doctor, a surgery specialist is in deputation," said Roul.

"There is a an urgent requirement of an anaesthetist and trained doctor for the CHC's blood bank. The situation is very precarious and it is difficult to manage the show since this is the referral hospital for all the PHCs and CHCs at Simulia, Khaira, Oupada, Gopalpur and the neighbouring Basudevpur of Bhadrak. The blood bank is lying defunct in the absence of a trained doctor. The difficulties due to the want of doctors are being apprised to the chief district medical officer," said Roul.

"It is a major health care centre for south Balasore. I hope the authorities depute more doctors there at the earliest," said Soro resident Sudhansu Nayak.

Chief district medical officer Bibekananda Das said he was aware of the paucity of doctors at the CHC and that a trained doctor would be posted for the blood bank shortly.