CPM flags staff shortages, halted diagnostics at two UHCs

Mangaluru: A CPM delegation Monday visited two urban health centres (UHC) in Padil and Ekkur which cater to over a hundred patients daily from surrounding MCC wards, including Bajal, Alape South, Alape North, Kankanady, Jeppinamogaru and Kannur.At the Padil centre, except for the doctor, all staff are on contract. Two sanctioned staff nurse posts have been vacant for the past six months. Of the five required ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) posts, two remain vacant, said DYFI district secretary Santhosh Bajal.At the Ekkur UHC, even the doctor is on contract, and two ANM positions are vacant, he added.While both centres stock medicines, diagnostic services have been affected. Earlier, blood samples for tests such as thyroid screening for pregnant women were collected at the centres and sent outside, with the govt bearing the cost. The delegation found that this service has now been stopped across all urban health centres in the city.Bajal demanded that doctors, staff nurses and other employees working on contract for several years be regularised. He also urged the govt to resume free diagnostic tests for pregnant women and extend the centres’ operating hours.