Medicare at Ayush hospitals severely hit by staff shortage in Kadapa district
KADAPA: Despite the growing popularity of ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha, and homeopathy (Ayush) medicine in Kadapa district, facilities for treating people utilising these fields are only nominal. This is despite people across the district turning to Indian systems of medicine, particularly homeopathy, ayurveda and unani, for treatment of specific ailments.
There are 39 ayurvedic, unani and homeo hospitals functioning in Kadapa district. But treatment at these medical centres is meagre due to staff shortage. Existing personnel, however hard they try, are unable to meet the demand.
As many as 26 hospitals are facing shortage of doctors or other staff. Doctors at some of the hospitals are trying hard to dispense medicare. But, they are finding it difficult to cope with the situation. Situation at ayurvedic hospitals is such that only 13 doctors are there to take care of 16 ayurvedic hospitals. Eight doctors are handling duties at 11 homeopathy hospitals and another eight doctors are trying to cope with the situation at 12 unani hospitals.
Incidentally, there is only one ayurvedic doctor working in Government District Ayush Hospital in Proddatur. Unani and homeopathic doctors are available only two days a week here.
Making matters worse is the fact that hardly any medicines are being supplied to these government hospitals since last one year. Doctors are writing prescriptions and patients have to buy the requisite medicines from private shops. Patients are complaining that they are visiting public hospitals only as they do not have money. Non-availability of medicines at the hospitals makes matters worse for them.
A Kadapa district Ayush official disclosed that a report has been sent in this regard to Commissioner for Ayush. Steps will be taken to provide medicines within one month. He maintained that state government will recruit 200 doctors from different Ayush fields to fill up the vacancies.
