Apathy to Homeopathy in hospitals

 

COOCH BEHAR, Nov. 1: Though it is accepted as one of the cheapest system of medicines the homeopathy sections in government hospitals and health centres in Cooch Behar district are suffering of negligence. In a bid to improve the situation an initiative was taken to launch a Specialist Homeopathic Clinic at Maharaja Jitendra Narayan Hospital.

 

It was learnt that there are nine homeopathic medical officers (HMO) only in twenty-eight sanctioned posts in different hospitals and health centres in this district. Most of the posts of homeopathic compounder-cum-dressers and general duty assistants are also lying vacant. There are only six compounder-cum-dressers and three GDAs in this district though the number of sanctioned posts in each of the service is twenty-eight. The existing HMOs are running outdoor patient departments almost without compounders and GDAs. In a few cases the homeopathic sections are running with the help of local volunteers. According to norms a homeopathic unit should consist of a HMO, a compounder and a GDA.

 

Though there are only nine doctors they are to run fifteen units in this district. It is not very easy job for a HMO to run two units at a time. It is hard to serve the patients properly if a doctor has to work at two units, as the rush of patients in OPDs is not very marginal. President of Cooch Behar district unit of Homeopathic Service Doctors' Association, Dr Bidyut Mandal demanded immediate filling up of the vacant posts for the greater interest of patients.

 

When inquired about the problem of shortage of doctors and other staffs the chief medical officer of health, Dr Sunil Kumar Shil admitted it and said there were twelve homeopathic doctors in this district but as some of them were released out against transfer orders the posts are lying vacant. No relievers were available to take up the jobs of the transferred doctors.

 

Meanwhile, a Specialist Homeopathic Clinic is going to come up at MJN Hospital in Cooch Behar. The Centre has sanctioned Rs 3-lakh for the SHC. A postgraduate (MD) and two graduate homeopathic (BHMS) doctors are to be engaged here on contract basis. The CMOH Dr Shil said Rs 3-lakh was sanctioned for renovation of the rooms to be allotted to the SHC. Work is going on in full swing and it is expected that the unit will be completed soon. After completion of the renovation work the Centre will release the fund against utilisation certificate, Dr Shil said.

 

Welcoming the initiative, district HSDA president Dr Mandal said they learnt that if the SHC functions properly and found beneficial it may be upgraded to a ten-bedded homeopathic unit. In that case it may be a welcome move for the poor patients because the homeopathy is still the low cost system of medicine. []