The Dinhata subdivisional hospital. Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

Dinhata, Aug. 10: The medicine wing, out-patients’ department and the ultra-sonography facility of the subdivisional hospital here have not been functioning for the past two weeks because the doctors are on leave.

The hospital caters to people from 33 gram panchayats. A lot of patients have been forced to turn to private clinics, which are more expensive. For an ultrasonographic scan, for example, the hospital charges Rs 150, while private clinics charge anything between Rs 500 and Rs 700.

BPL card-holders can get the scan done at the subdivisional hospital for free.

When contacted on his mobile phone, the superintendent of the hospital, Pranab Roy, said he was away in Calcutta on work. “I have heard that because two medical officers are on leave simultaneously, there is some problem in the medicine ward and the out-patients’ wing. I have asked a physician from MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar to help us out,” Roy said.

“The doctor who mans the ultra-sonography department will be back in a day or two,” the superintendent added.

Enquiries at the hospital revealed that physicians Anindya Chowdhury and Manas Ranjan Kar have been on leave since July 27 and August 3, respectively. Partha Sanyal, who looks after the ultra-sonography section, is also on leave.

“Sanyal is originally from MJN. He mans the ultra-sonography section on a part time basis,” said a source at the hospital.

P.K. Sinha Sarkar, the physician brought in from MJN after the current crisis, is attending to patients who are admitted to the hospital, the source added. Thus the problem in the out-patients’ wing remains.

Parimal Barman, whose wife Malati is admitted to the female ward, said he spent Rs 1,000 to get an ultrasonographic scan done.

“My wife needed it immediately. Since the facility at the hospital is not working, I had to hire an ambulance for Rs 300 to take her to a private diagnostic centre here. The scan cost Rs 700,” said Parimal, who comes from Sukarurkuthi, about 10km away.

Hamid Ali, whose relative is admitted to the hospital, said even the ambulances were charging extra.

“They are sometimes asking for more than Rs 500 for a round trip from the hospital to the clinics,” Ali said.

The chief medical officer of health of Cooch Behar, S.K. Shil, admitted that three doctors were on leave simultaneously. “However I have not got reports of any major problem at the Dinhata subdivisional hospital,” the CMOH added.