****RTI reveals vacancies in the health department; low staffing in hospitals is affecting the quality of healthcare, says /Dhiman.

****RTI reveals vacancies in the health department; low staffing in hospitals is affecting the quality of healthcare, says /Dhiman.
***False, and hollow health policies are undermining constitutional services/ Dhiman
Hoshiarpur / Daljeet Ajnoha/May 9
Truth, fairness, tolerance and knowledge are essential to strengthen public service. Development rests on quality and merit, and vacant posts in government offices are a sign of weakening work culture and wasted public service.
Labour Party president Jai Gopal Dhiman disclosed, through information obtained under the Right to Information Act from the office of the Civil Surgeon, Hoshiarpur, that there is a wide gap between what the Punjab government says and what it does, and that some other thinking is driving health services.
He said that staff is urgently needed to ensure the smooth functioning of health institutions. According to him, out of 13 posts of Senior Pharmacy Officer, 6 are vacant; out of 85 posts of Pharmacy Officer, 41 are vacant; out of 18 posts of Ophthalmic Officer, 12 are vacant; and out of 13 posts of Operation Theatre Assistant, 7 are vacant.
In the Civil Hospital, 4 out of 22 posts of Nursing Sister are vacant, 79 out of 243 posts of Staff Nurse are vacant, and 3 out of 4 posts of Matron are vacant. In addition, 40 out of 93 posts of Lab Technician, 6 out of 52 posts of Multipurpose Health Supervisor, and 16 out of 222 posts of Multipurpose Health Worker are vacant.
At Civil Hospital Hoshiarpur, 24 out of 39 posts of Medical Officer (General) are vacant, while 4 out of 30 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At SDH Dasuya, 28 out of 27 posts of Medical Officer (General) are vacant, and 1 out of 19 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) is vacant. At SDH Mukerian, 13 out of 27 posts of Medical Officer (General) are vacant and 1 out of 13 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) is vacant. At SDH Garhshankar, 16 out of 27 posts of Medical Officer (General) are vacant, and 9 out of 13 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant.
At PHC Budhabar, 4 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant, and the post of Medical Officer (Dental) is also vacant. At PHC Bhunga, 3 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At CHC Haryana Block, 4 out of a total 5 posts are vacant. At PHC Chakowal, the post of Medical Officer (Dental) is vacant. At CHC Sham Churasi, 2 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At PHC Harta Badla, 1 post of Medical Specialist is vacant. At PHC Hajipur, 3 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At CHC Bhol Kalota Block, 3 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At CHC Kamahi Devi, 3 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant. At PHC Mand Bhander, 1 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) is vacant. At PHC Posi, 1 post of SMO and 1 post of Medical Officer (General) are vacant. At CHC Binewal, 4 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) are vacant, along with 1 post of Medical Officer (Dental). At PHC Tanda, the post of Medical Officer (Dental) is vacant. At PHC Paldi, 1 post of SMO and 1 out of 2 posts of Medical Officer (General) are vacant, while at CHC Mahilpur, 1 out of 5 posts of Medical Officer (Specialist) is vacant.
He said that across the district health department, 325 out of 523 posts are vacant, along with one temporary post. He also said that 79 out of 256 posts of Multipurpose Health Worker (Female) are vacant.
Dhiman said that development of humanity cannot be achieved through mere talk and rhetoric. While queues of unemployed youth in Punjab are getting longer, and many are growing older without work and falling prey to mental stress, leaving posts unfilled amounts to playing with their future.
He alleged that instead of giving priority to jobs for its own children, the Punjab government is deliberately giving preference to children from other states. Because of this, people are facing problems in hospitals, government primary health centres and community health centres.
Dhiman said that the Labour Party will soon step forward to provide relief to the unemployed. He appealed to people to unite against unemployment.