Kiphire hospital ‘sick’ with many problems

The new multi storied building under construction for the District Hospital Kiphire provides some hope. But no one is sure as to when it will be completed.

The 50 bedded District Hospital in Kiphire (DHK) established in 1980 is crippled with multiple problems resulting in various health problems for the people. The people have to silently bear with this problem as their repeated grievances have not been addressed by anyone.

The biggest health care institute in the district is running not only with a shortage of doctors and nurses but it also lacks the basic laboratory facilities and other infrastructures.
While speaking to this correspondent, the Medical Superintendent (DHK), Dr. Pensokyu stated that the hospital is running without enough faculties as there are only 13 nurses, including the NRHM staff. He added that not even a single laboratory technician is employed by the District Hospital in Kiphire and that the only Lab Technician employed from the NRHM works on a contract basis.

Disclosing the shortage of manpower, the Medical superintendent informed that the DHK should have 30 nurses as per the survey of beds and the patients ,including 5 allopathic doctors. However, he lamented that the hospital has only 4 allopathic doctors and only 13 nurses including the NRHM employees.
Pointing out more problems faced by the DHK, the Medical superintendent said that the hospital has only one ambulance which needs repairs as its service is required almost every week. He stated, “We are in need of more ambulances but we are helpless as our grievances are not addressed even after repeatedly highlighting our issues to the concerned authorities.”

The MS however said that with the encouragement and initiative of the Deputy Commissioner who is also Chairman of the District Health society Kiphire, Kesonyu Yhome (IAS), the DHK could purchase a portable X-Ray machine under RKS fund. He said that the machine is installed in the Dental room. This has however led to another problem because there is “no room for the dentist to work,” he stated.

Commenting on the non usage of blood banks, the MS said, “we have received a fridge for the blood bank with a capacity of 12 units but the problem is that there is no technician to make use of it. There is also a lack of rooms and electricity as there is no generator.”  He cited cases where patient could have been saved, had there been a blood bank.

It is to be noted that a multi storied building is coming up for the District hospital in Kiphrie and the authorities feel that after the completion of this building, all laboratory equipments like X-Ray, Ultrasound, Scanning etc would reach the hospital. However, no one knows as to when the building will be completed.

The RKS fund which was 5 lakhs earlier is now reduced to 4 lakhs for the new districts. This has further added to the complexity of the problems faced by new district as this fund had earlier helped hospitals to buy some equipment.