Kendrapara: Rural health centres in the district are suffering due to shortage of doctors. Of the 171 sanctioned posts of doctors, 90 are lying vacant.

In the absence of doctors, in these centres, quacks are cashing on the situation. The situation has virtually paralysed the health service network in Kendrapara.

The district headquarters hospital is also affected by the huge number of vacancies. There are 58 sanctioned posts of doctors, of which 38 are lying vacant.

The health centres without doctors have turned defunct and para-medical staffs are performing the role of doctors.

People having serious health issues are forced travel to Cuttack or Bhubaneswar for proper diagnosis.

In the district headquarters hospital here, no doctor turned up here since it became operational a decade ago.

The para-medical staffs prescribe medicine to the patients here.

"Health is no longer on the priority list of the state government. Poor people are left to fend for themselves as health centres and dispensaries are left unmanned. Small children and pregnant women are suffering the most, said a resident of Rangani gram panchayat under Rajnagar tehsil.

Kendrapara collector Reghu G said vacancies had affected the health service network in the district.

"The main problem is that the doctors posted here are playing truant and have not reported for duty. We have written to the government for deployment of more doctors. The higher authorities have responded positively. The vacant posts are likely to be filled up shortly," the collector said.