The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Shortage of doctors in CGHS dispensaries

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Monday, Dec 07, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Shortage of doctors in CGHS dispensaries

R.Sujatha

CHENNAI: The Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) dispensaries in the city are facing a shortage of doctors, including specialists.

According to pensioners who access the facilities, fewer doctors in the dispensaries have meant longer waiting period and more expenses as the beneficiaries are forced to consult private practitioners and get the investigations done outside.

The healthcare facilities are used by current and retired Central government employees, including senior bureaucrats and politicians.

A Central government pensioner residing in Anna Nagar said the shortage of doctors became noticeable after the swine flu scare in the country. Most of the doctors were called away to handle the “national emergency,” said a doctor. A.V. Mukuntharajan, general secretary of Pensioner’s Forum, says it is the ailing senior citizens who are the hardest hit. According to him in the last seven to eight years, no medical specialist has been posted in the city’s CGHS facilities. Medicines are made available after a week’s wait and though the dispensaries have been provided with diagnostic centres some of the machines such as the X-ray units have not been upgraded.

Mr. Mukuntharajan says that private hospitals empanelled in the scheme as referral centres rarely adhere to the conditions laid down in the written agreement between the CGHS and the hospital. Sometimes it takes six to seven months before their expenses are reimbursed by the CGHS.

The CGHS doctor generally refers a patient to a specialist in a government hospital but pensioners do not want to go to a government facility as they are overcrowded. “If I could meet the specialist in his private clinic, it would be easier,” an 85-year-old pensioner said, adding, “I live in West Mambalam and I must go to Government General Hospital in Park Town for a specialist’s remarks. At my age I cannot travel that far.”

Many pensioners say that the lack of interest in improving services could be due to the changes that the Central government has proposed. Tenders have been called for insurance scheme on the lines of those launched by the State government.

Additional Director of CGHS in Chennai P. Madhialagan admits that there are some glitches, but says “when I get a claim from a person who has sought treatment in a government hospital, I immediately sanction the bill.” According to him, the retired civil servants who have served in very senior positions in the government could provide an impetus by taking up the issue with the State government.

A separate ward and outpatient facility for CGHS beneficiaries in the State-run hospitals would help, he says. His predecessors wrote to the State government, but it is yet to respond, he says.

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