Residents of Lahaul and Spiti have expressed concern over the shortage of specialist doctors in Keylong and Kaza hospitals. They have urged the state government to take immediate action to fill vacant posts of doctor.
Kunga Bodh, a member of the Lahaul and Spiti Zila Parishad, highlighted the grave situation, saying, “In the absence of specialist doctors in both hospitals, patients from this tribal area are facing huge difficulties in availing of medical care.”
He said that the posts of specialist doctor like radiologist, paediatrician, gynaecologist, medicine and ophthalmology were vacant at the hospital at Keylong. People struggle with adverse geographical conditions in this snow-bound district and due to the lack of specialist doctors, patients were forced to travel all the way to Kullu.
Former MLA Ravi Thakur had raised the issue and criticised the state government’s indifference towards the pressing needs of the district. He had emphasised the importance of providing adequate medical staff at the hospitals in Keylong and Kaza. .
Lahaul and Spiti MLA Anuradha Rana had raised the matter in the Vidhan Sabha, calling for action from the government on the shortage of doctors. In reply to her question, Health Minister Dhani Ram Shandil had acknowledged the problem and outlined the government’s plan to improve healthcare in the region.
Shandil stated that both Keylong and Kaza hospitals were slated to be developed as “ideal health institutions”. He added that 17 posts of doctor had been approved for the Keylong hospital. Nine vacancies, including two specialist posts for surgery and anaesthesia, had already been filled. At the Kaza Civil Hospital, 10 posts of doctor had been approved and five posts had been filled. However, no specialist was at present available. The minister assured Anuradha that efforts were being made to appoint specialists at both hospitals.
