More hospital beds but no man power

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Dec. 7: The state government has sanctioned 100 more beds in Malda district hospital but the hospital is not in a position to provide that many number of new beds with the given manpower.According to the Malda chief district medical officer, health Dr Radha Raman Banik, the bed strength would go up to 599 once the 100 beds are added. “Although the beds were sanctioned in the month of November, we have not been able to introduce those due to a shortage of manpower. “We need more doctors and medical staff before the new beds can be introduced,” he said. About 700 to 725 patients are treated everyday in the Malda district hospital. “Due to the dearth of beds, often two patients have to share one bed,” said the hospital superintendent Dr Animesh Roy. According to the authorities, of the 57 sanctioned posts, the hospital at present has 46 doctors. Out of that number, five doctors have expressed the desire to avail of voluntary retirement. Similarly, of the 170 sanctioned nurse's posts 114 nurses are working in the hospital. “The matter would be discussed in the next district health monitoring committee meeting,” the hospital authorities, said. The Malda district health authorities have in the meantime, chalked out a plan to strengthen security from 1 January for the protection of on duty doctors and other medical staff inside the hospital. “One police outpost would be set up near the emergency department of the district hospital,” the Malda chief medical officer, health Dr Banik said. The decision comes following the attack on a pediatrician Dr TK Das a few days ago. It maybe noted that at least five government doctors in Malda district hospital have informed authorities that they would take voluntary retirement failing to bear the pressure in the district hospital.