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Kathmandu Saturday January 12, 2002 Paush 28, 2058.
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Temporary doctors to fill
vacant posts
By Pragya Ghimire
KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The government is planning to
fulfil the vacant posts of doctors in the government hospitals by making third amendment
in the existing Health Service Act.
"The government is going to fulfil the
total 300 vacant posts of doctors in the regional, zonal and central hospitals by
recruiting the fresh doctors on the temporary basis," said Health Minister Sarat
Singh Bhandari. "It is only possible by making amendment in the existing Health
Service Act during the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament."
Previously, the Public Service Commission (PSC)
did not allow the government to appoint temporary doctors. This provision has so far left
almost 30 per cent posts of the doctors vacant in the government hospitals across the
country.
Also the Health Service Act (Second Amendment)
– 2053 has made provisions to recruit and appoint doctors only with consent from the
PSC.
The doctors who have been refusing to join their
duty in the zonal hospitals are actually violating the Health Service Act governing them,
said Minister Bhandari.
According to the Second Amendment, the fresh
government doctors should work, at least, for six months in regional or zonal hospitals.
Then, they will be eligible to work in the far-flung district hospitals after working for
six months in the centre.
For the doctors who have been in the service for
a number of years and working as specialist have to go to regional or zonal hospitals as
per the requirements in those hospitals.
Mahendra Nath Aryal Secretary at the Ministry
said, "The doctors who have theoretical knowledge are deputed in the biggest
government hospital in order to train them by giving enough practical experience."
Our correspondent from Pokhara quotes Dr.
Krishna Poudel of the Parbat District Hospital as saying that the hospital has only one
doctor and also lacks equipment. This has forced the patients to visit many other health
clinics to have their health checked up."
"The hospital is in sorry state as there is
no technician in the labs for the past six years," said Poudel, adding, "And
even the X-Ray machine is out of order for the past two years."
On the other hand, Medical Superintendent at the
Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital, Dr. Ram Avtar Khetan, said, "Although the hospital
has vacancy for 50 doctors, hardly half of them are currently working there." Dr
Khetan added that the hospital has become dysfunctional as two of its important
departments – Cardiology and Mental Illness – lack medical expertise.
Dr Khetan said, seven doctors who were posted
there returned to the capital immediately after producing their official letters of
deputation. "The Health Ministry itself is not abiding by its own set rules and
regulations," he added.
Dr. Neelam Khadga, one of the doctors posted in
Narayani Hospital, said, "We had to return to the capital since there were limited
number of neurosurgeons at the Bir Hospital. In addition, I am also studying Post-Gradaute
degree in Neuro-Surgery."
Director of Bir Hospital, Manohar Lal Shrestha,
said, "There was no vacancy in the hospital and we at any cost need their
service."
Not only the seven doctors of the Bir Hospital,
Shrestha further added, most of all doctors posted in various rural hospitals have not
attended there. "But it is ridiculous to pinpoint us."
Deputy Medical Superinten-dent of the Western
Regional Hospital, Shova Laxmi Shrestha, said, the hospital which has the daily inflow of
230 patients is also in sorry state, as the government couldn’t fulfil the quotas of
six doctors. The patients of Neuro-Surgery are deprived of treatment due to the lack of
experts.
She further added, the post of Physician,
Anaesthesia, Dental Surgeon and Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) should be immediately fulfilled.
"The Ministry has not given any response
despite our repeated requests to send more doctors in the hospital," she added.
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