Upgrade of Malda rural hospital a far cry

MALDA, 14 SEPT: Though the district health authorities had proposed to upgrade Chanchal rural hospital as a sub-divisional hospital in the northern part of Malda district three years ago, the state health authorities have not approved the proposal yet. The chief medical officer of health, Dr Srikanta Roy had informed the matter to the health minister at a recent meeting here, but no initiative had been taken up till date. “We have planned to send a fresh proposal to re-build the infrastructure at Chanchal rural hospital so that we can renovate it as a sub-divisional hospital that will provide better health services to people," said Dr Srikanta Roy. “We need the present status report of the hospital to know its capacity and an approximate number of patients who visit the outdoor and indoor chambers of the hospital. It is only after this that we will be able to finalise its staff strength, number of bed for patients and the construction plan of the building as a sub-divisional hospital," Dr Roy said. “There should have been a sub-divisional hospital in the first place when Chanchal was declared a sub-division years ago," he added. Though the health department has its surgeon and gynecologist posted in the hospital, but owing to a dearth of blood storage doctors did not risk any serious operation. Serious pregnant mothers' cases are often referred to the Malda district hospital due to the lack of infrastructure here. The staffs posted at Chanchal rural hospital are less than its requirement and sanctioned earlier as rural hospital. SNS