Janakpur Zonal Hospital short of doctors

JANAKPUR, May 1: Shortage of doctors at Janakpur Zonal Hospital has affected patients visiting its maternity and surgical wards. [break]



The situation was aggravated after the recent transfer of two doctors.



"We were already facing shortage of doctors. The two wards of the hospital are virtually without doctors following the two transfers," said Gaurang Mishra, chief of the Zonal Hospital. "The ministry has not addressed the problem despite being repeatedly informed."



At least 25 patients from over half-a-dozen districts visit maternity ward of the hospital each day. But there is only one gynecologist. There are two vacancies in the maternity ward.



The shortage of doctors has directly affected patients visiting the hospital. "It has become very difficult to get an appointment with a doctor," said Ramesh Kumar, who was waiting with his ailing kin at the maternity ward. "It would be better if the hospital shut down the maternity ward altogether. We would then go to a private clinic."



Two months ago, the maternity ward was shut down for three days after Dr Rani Jha, Dr Ram Naresh Pandit and Dr Kalpana Bachhar serving at the ward went on leave. The shortage of doctors occurred after two of the doctors-Dr Jha and Dr Pandit-were transferred following public pressure.



Likewise, there is only one surgeon against a total two vacancies in the hospital. The Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) ward is shut down due to lack of specialist doctors.

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