Taluk government hospital in Maski does not have gynaecologists, paediatricians and other qualified doctors.
By Yumna Ahmed
Nurses in the government hospital of Maski taluk in Raichur district of Karnataka have to deliver babies and look after the pregnant ladies who come there, as there are no gynaecologists in the hospital. It gets difficult when they receive complicated cases. They either send them to the district hospital or deliver the babies themselves.
The hospital lacks basic facilities—like proper equipment, toilets, sufficient number of beds, etc. They do not have qualified doctors; nurses and M.Sc. graduates deal with the patients.
Basamma, a nurse from Maski’s government hospital confirms the need for gynaecologists as there are complicated cases.
I have been here for twenty years now and I handle all the delivery cases, as there is no gynaecologist in the hospital. Even the complicated cases are handled by the nurses. There is only one general physician here, who leaves the hospital at 7 in the evening,” she said.
Mamta, a resident of Benakanal village in Maski, shared her experience at the hospital. She said,“There are no Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in the villages and no ambulance facilities, as well. My sister gave birth to a baby boy this morning; the delivery was very complicated, but because there is no gynaecologist in the hospital, the nurse delivered the baby. They don’t even have enough beds and other basic equipment.”
Ambresh, a member of Zila Parishad said, “We have not received funds for the PHC’s in the villages due to which people have to travel all the way to Maski for medicines. The government is taking steps for providing better facilities for the people in the hospitals. Nurses have complained about the lack of doctors and gynaecologists as well. The government is looking into the matter.”
Salma Begum, an Anganwadi worker, said, “Both, my sister and I are Anganwadi workers. The government hospital here lacks basic facilities and most of the time doctors are not available. Even the toilets are broken and there is no water available.”
Ratna, a nurse at Mudgal Government Hospital, said,“We maintain a stock of medicines and there are more than 30 beds in each ward. We do not keep the patients for more than three or four hours and we only give permission to stay in case of emergency.”
Dr. B.K. Vijendra, a health expert, said, “Government hospitals should be maintained and there should be awareness about diseases. Doctors, especially gynaecologists, must be posted at these hospitals, because there are more chances of complications during pregnancy. For people to prefer gynaecologists over nurses in rural areas, they need to know about them.”
