NHRC notice to Haryana Government on allegations of vacant posts in health centers

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Haryana Government to inform how many posts of medical and paramedical staff have been lying vacant in the community health centers and sub-centers in Karnal district and since how long.

In the notices issued to the Chief Secretary and Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, the NHRC also sought to know about the steps taken by the administration to improve the situation and the kind of medical facilities available in these centers, especially for the treatment of children and women.

These directions follow the suo-motu cognizance taken by the NHRC of a media report about acute shortage of medical and paramedical staff in Public Health Centers and Sub-Centers under Community Health Scheme in Haryana's Karnal district.

Reportedly, six posts of medical officers are lying vacant in PHC, Sambhali, Barota, Jundla and Nising; all the posts of ANMs are lying vacant in the sub-centers at villages Augad, Dacher, Amupur, Brahathlana, Dadupur and Bansa. Similarly, all posts of class-IV employees are lying vacant in all these Centers. There are only eight posts out of 22 posts of MPHW that are filled up.

In Nising, there is provision of one senior medical officer and three medical officers in Community Health Center. However, out of these, only one post of medical officer is in position at present.

It is further reported that no female medical officer has been posted in this Community Health Centre, forcing the female patients, particularly, pregnant women, to go to the private nursing homes for their deliveries and other ailments.