Rayagada, Sept. 18 (UDN): Healthcare delivery at the Ambadala Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Rayagada has come under scrutiny amid a shortage of doctors, medical equipment and emergency transport, with a single physician reportedly handling patients from eight gram panchayats.
The concerns surfaced on World Patient Safety Day as residents highlighted the difficulties faced by patients seeking treatment at the government health facility.
The PHC reportedly receives between 150 and 200 patients a day, putting considerable pressure on the lone doctor. The physician has also been serving at the facility on deputation for the past two years.
Heavy patient load
According to the doctor posted at the PHC, the daily patient load frequently exceeds 120 and rises to more than 200 on Mondays.
Dr Sudhansu Baida said he had joined Muniguda PHC in June 2023 and served there for around one-and-a-half years before being posted to Ambadala on deputation.
He said managing the high volume of patients single-handedly remains a major challenge.
Residents have also raised concerns about the impact of staff shortages when the doctor is unavailable, particularly for patients travelling long distances to access primary healthcare.
Ambulance shortage adds to concern
The health centre also reportedly lacks several advanced medical facilities and equipment required to handle specialised cases. Patients needing higher-level treatment are therefore referred to other hospitals.
However, the referral process is reportedly affected by limited ambulance availability.
Residents said only one ambulance is available to serve people across eight gram panchayats, creating difficulties when multiple patients require emergency transportation or referral at the same time.
One patient, Madan Nag, said he had travelled around 30-35 km to consult the doctor and described the shortage of medical personnel as a major concern for people dependent on the PHC.
Residents seek better facilities
The shortage of doctors, limited equipment and inadequate emergency transport have prompted residents to seek stronger healthcare infrastructure at the facility.
They have called for adequate deployment of medical personnel and improvement of ambulance and diagnostic facilities to ensure timely treatment and referrals.
The situation at Ambadala PHC highlights the challenges faced by people in remote areas where a single government health facility serves a large population spread across multiple panchayats.
On World Patient Safety Day, the concerns have also renewed the focus on ensuring timely access to doctors, emergency services and essential medical infrastructure in rural and underserved areas.
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