Bengaluru: The Karnataka state and Central Governments are showing disinterest in filling thousands of vacant posts in various departments. Unemployment problems not just exist, it is increasing the state.
The Department of Health and Family Welfare Services, which is supposed to provide good health care to the people and build a healthy society, is suffering from lack of staff. As many as 13,622 medical staff posts are vacant in the state, and the staff who have been there for many years have left the Department in a miserable condition. Thousands of posts of non-medical staff are also vacant. The administrative department of the Department is also suffering from a shortage of staff.
Around 3,636 Primary Health Protection Officer, 2,849 Health Inspector posts are vacant across the state. 914 General Duty Medical Officer Posts, 572 Specialist Doctor Posts, 2,272 Nursing Officer, 1,239 Drug Specialist Officer, 1,405 Junior Laboratory Technician Officer, 318 Senior Laboratory Technician Officer, 152 X-ray Technician Officer, 245 Ophthalmic Technician Officer, Dental Specialist 20 Posts, thus in all 13,622 vacancies remain unfilled.
Due to this, common people are suffering due to lack of timely healthcare services in all district hospitals, taluk hospitals, primary health centres and community health centres of the state. Also, thousands of ‘D’ grade posts including SDA, FDA, typist, driver remain unfilled in the administrative department. The administrative department is understaffed. Since these posts remained unfilled for many years, it has badly affected the Department.
Mainly due to lack of posts of primary health protection officers, health inspectors, there is a backlog in the survey work to detect dengue, malaria, fever, immunisation and diseases in villages within the primary health center. There are more than 2,600 primary health centers in the state. 3-5 officers are required in each centre range. There is a problem because these posts are vacant.
National health programmes are not running properly due to lack of staff. Village cleanliness, water testing and health awareness programmes have also been hit. Poor patients are struggling due to shortage of gynaecologists, paediatricians, cardiologists and neurologists in district hospitals and taluk hospitals.