PHC Goha without doctors

NL Correspondent
Doda, January 8
Subsequent reluctance of doctors to work in far flung areas has left
patients of Public Health Centre (PHC) in Marmat-Goha in Jammu and
Kashmir's hilly Doda district in state of lurch with no doctor
available to them for treatment.
With the result patients are being referred to district hospital Doda
or in Jammu and Srinagar, causing them extreme hardships, physically,
mentally and financially.
Established in 1980's, Public Health Centre (PHC) Marmat-Goha has no
doctor to cater the medical needs of over 40 thousand population since
past few days due transfer of ‘only doctor' posted creating grave
resentment among local people.
Public Health Centre-Goha has vacancy of 1 MBBS Doctor, 2 MBBS Doctors
(NRHM), 1 BDS, 2 ISM Doctors and a large force of paramedical staff.
Rayis a local resident said, “It's very unfortunate that only doctor
working here has been transferred by government which is grave
injustice with people of waste area. Another doctor who was posted
here has been on leave for very long time left the people on mercy of
god.”
“Ambulance facility is also not available in PHC from years forced
old, ailing and pregnant women to walk miles to get treatment. A large
no of population is poor and can't afford to go outside for treatment
and now they are depending upon local means of Medicare facilities.”
he added.
People are demanding that all the vacant posts should be filled
immediately and upgrade the PHC to Sub-district hospital because the
only PHC cannot fulfill the demands of the large population of this
area.
Block Medical Officer, Assar, Dr Mushtaq Shah said, “So far we have
not relieved the transferred doctor but it is a serious concern and we
have taken up the matter with higher ups to fulfil the vacant posts”.