Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA): MLAs highlight shortage of doctors, medical staff

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The penultimate day of the Winter Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly (ALA) on Friday witnessed members from both the ruling alliance as well as Opposition parties highlighting the shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff in model hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) in their respective Legislative Assembly Constituencies (LACs).

The issue was initially raised during Question Hour by Bodoland People's Front (BFP) MLA Rabiram Narzary, who mentioned that only one doctor is working in the model hospital in his LAC against nine sanctioned posts, while there are only two nurses there at present. Narzary said that the purpose for which the model hospital has been set up in that remote area has not been fulfilled as a result of inadequate manpower.

The BJP's Dharmeswar Konwar mentioned that the Sapekhati PHC under Sonari LAC is facing a shortage of doctors and nurses. Taranga Gogoi of the BJP also mentioned that there is not a single gynaecologist in the hospitals in his LAC (Naharkatia).

Similarly, the Congress' Bharat Narah, the AIUDF's Aminul Islam and Sherman Ali Ahmed, and a section of other MLAs also highlighted the shortage of doctors and nurses, besides inadequate facilities, in their respective LACs.

Responding to the MLAs' submissions, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika said on behalf of Health and Family Welfare Minister Keshab Mahanta that there is indeed a shortfall between requirement and availability of doctors and other medical staff in the state. Hazarika said that the government will appoint 682 new doctors within a month. Additional nurses and technical staff will also be appointed within two months, he added.

Hazarika said that till two years ago, 726 MBBS doctors used to pass out in the state each year. However, now that number has increased to 1,150 MBBS doctors per year, he informed the House, adding that within five years the state will be able to produce 2,500 MBBS doctors each year. He said that the government is hopeful of overcoming the shortage of doctors within the next six years.

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