Pune: a broad survey of 150 hospitals managed by the government have revealed that Maharashtra is very unprepared for health emergencies, with only 0.4 government hospital beds available for 1,000 people who oppose the norms of the World Health Organization (WHO) of at least 2 beds.
In addition, there is only one permanent medical officer with half (51%) of the 122 primary health centers (PHCs) covered during the study, which means there is only one doctor for more than 30,000 people compared to norms who are a doctor for 1,000 people.
Jan Arogya Abhiyan (JAA), a network of various social organizations and health activists work for the right to health care, hospital surveys at the village and taluka level in 17 districts in the state, including Pune, in July this year.
Public health services are a mainstay and only a source of medical support for many people.
This service must be quickly improved by ensuring the regular appointment of adequate staff and improving services, experts say.
“One cannot imagine how a regular medical officer is required to manage the PHC which includes a population of more than 30,000 people when conducting Covid outreach activities.
This causes the enclosed opd and child care services and child care that is greatly affected during the pandemic,” said Health Activists Girish Bhave, member of the State Committee Jaa.
“The survey has found that the lack of major staff is partly intended through contract involvement.
Such gaps have caused excess work for existing staff, while patients suffer due to lack of service,” Bhave said.
This survey also revealed that 30% of posters of empty specialists and 12% of doctors worked on a contract at sub-district hospitals (SDH) included in the survey.
The highest number of empty posts in SDH is for psychiatrists (100%), radiologists (36%), orthopedic surgeons (36%) and ENT surgeons (43%).
“A specialist vacancies have had a direct impact on special services and operations at the hospital,” said Health Activist Shailaja Aralkar, member of the State Committee JAA.
In addition, doctors at rural hospitals were given the task of Covid, which caused a long delay for serious non-covid patients, while in several places, treatment and operations for non-Covid patients were stopped, he said.
The need for public health facilities has increased during the Covid period, because people from various socio-economic parts need public services for Covid treatment and vaccination.
However, because of the big shortcomings in the public system, rural populations are forced to go to private hospitals, which lead to large charging for maintenance (both covid and non-covid patients), experts said.
“Household finance has collapsed and many rural families have owed largely,” Arkar said.
Although the Covid situation has shown a very important role of public health services in India, Niti Aayog continues to argue to accelerate health privatization.
The agency recommends handing over the district hospitals to private players throughout the country, health activists accuse “considering this situation, the Maharashtra government must fully reject the recommendation of Niti Aayog for further commercialization and privatization,” Bhave said.
Of the 38 RHS and SDHS, 22 (59%) of hospitals did not conduct C-Sections during the Covid period.
This situation was found very severe in Akola, Amravati, Osmanabad, Thane, Nandurbar, Palghar, Pune, Yavatmal and Hingoli.