Residents seek upgradation of Othakadai PHC

Madurai: With increasing demand for public healthcare in Othakadai and surrounding areas, residents have called for upgrading the primary health centre (PHC) there to a block-level PHC so that it would get better facilities.T Prakash, a member of Makkal Athikaram Kazhagam, submitted a petition at the collectorate regarding the issue. He said around 1 lakh people live in Othakadai and surrounding areas such as Malaichamipuram and Muniandipuram, besides the floating population. “However, the PHC is equipped to handle only a population of 3,000 people. So, there is a need to increase number of medical officers and nurses at least four-fold there,” he said.

Making it block-level PHC would equip it to handle the population in the area and allow it function 24/7 as well, he added.On average, the PHC gets around 150 to 200 patients every day. But with capacity to handle only 40-50 patients per day, the facility is put under strain.“On Tuesdays and Fridays, around 50 to 80 pregnant women visit the PHC requiring scans and procedures that take time. A lack of doctors and nurses leaves other patients waiting, often without a place to sit,” said a doctor at the PHC. On most days, the doctor said he can only spend a few minutes per patient, making it difficult to give the best care.