Members of BJP Yuva Morcha agitate in front of the office of the chief district medical officer in Sambalpur. Telegraph picture
Sambalpur, Dec. 8: Residents here have expressed their opposition over the transfer of six government doctors. Since their replacements have not come yet, the health care in the district has been affected.
Three doctors, including two specialists, were relieved from the district headquarters hospital and three doctors were transferred from other government hospitals in Sambalpur district.
The BJP Yuva Morcha today staged a demonstration in front of the office of the chief district medical officer, protesting against the decision to relieve the doctors without any alternative arrangements.
'The district headquarters hospital was already struggling due to severe shortage of doctors. The sanctioned strength of the hospital is 55. But, there were only 35 doctors in the hospital. And now the government has relieved three more. Moreover, three other doctors from other hospitals of the district have also been relieved. Unfortunately, the doctors were relieved without replacements,' said Rudra Sarangi, an activist.
'Jaundice has taken the form of an epidemic here. Hundreds of people are affected and the government should provide more doctors. The irony is that they are transferring doctors from here. The government must fill up the vacant posts,' said another agitator, Harihar Panda.
'At a time when special medical teams should visit Sambalpur, the government has transferred six doctors from here. We will not tolerate this apathetic attitude of the government,' said another agitator.
The agitators also discussed the issue with the chief district medical officer Jagatkrushna Samantray.
Samantray admitted that more doctors were required to combat the jaundice scare. 'Four doctors were relieved as they got promotions. And two doctors were relieved because of transfer order. The government had issued an order to relieve doctors by the 25th of November. And we complied with that order. However, the government has already issued an order for the posting of three doctors in Sambalpur. We will ask them to join immediately,' said Samantray.
