The Community Health Centre (CHC) in the Barkot area of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand, has been facing a shortage of doctors for years, prompting growing concern among local residents. Villagers and residents say that since 2015, health services have been operating with only one doctor against eight sanctioned posts. They have submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister seeking a solution and warned of an agitation if doctors are not appointed soon.
According to local residents, the CHC is an important healthcare centre for the population of Barkot and surrounding villages. A large number of patients from nearby villages visit the facility for treatment, diagnostic services and primary care. Residents say the shortage of doctors creates difficulties for patients and their families, from routine illnesses to emergency situations, and that in several cases patients have to travel to hospitals located farther away for better treatment.
Villagers have demanded immediate government intervention, stating that only one doctor is available against eight sanctioned positions. They have also sought the filling of all necessary doctor posts at the Barkot CHC at the earliest.
Residents said that because Barkot is a hilly area, healthcare requirements are different from those in the plains. Patients travelling from remote villages to hospitals have to spend both time and money. They said adequate doctors and essential health services at the CHC could reduce the need for people to travel to other cities or larger hospitals for minor health problems.
According to local residents, the shortage of healthcare services particularly affects patients with serious conditions. If a patient's condition suddenly deteriorates, the patient may need to be referred to another hospital after receiving primary treatment. In such situations, distance and road conditions become important factors, while the additional travel time in hilly areas can pose a challenge for patients and their families.
Residents have also highlighted the need for adequate doctors at the nearby health centre for pregnant women, elderly people, children and patients suffering from serious illnesses. They said regular availability of doctors would allow patients to receive timely consultation and treatment, while serious cases could be identified early and referred to higher health centres when required.
Local people have demanded permanent deployment of doctors along with strengthening other essential healthcare staff and facilities at the hospital. They said appointments should ensure the actual availability of doctors at the hospital rather than being limited to records. Residents are also seeking regular doctor duty, diagnostic services and availability of essential medicines at the CHC.
According to villagers, government hospitals are important for local residents because treatment costs at private hospitals are not affordable for every family. They said adequate doctors at the government CHC are necessary for poor and middle-class families.
Several villages around Barkot are geographically distant and located in difficult-to-reach areas. During rain, landslides and road disruptions, transporting patients to larger hospitals can become more difficult. Residents said the local CHC becomes an important medical centre for people during such circumstances.
Regional residents said that adequate doctors at the CHC could allow many patients to receive treatment locally, reducing pressure on larger hospitals and limiting referrals to district hospitals or higher medical centres to patients requiring specialist treatment.
They said the problem has continued for a long time without a solution, leaving the general public to bear the consequences. Through the memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister, residents have conveyed their demands to the government.
The residents have warned that an agitation will be launched if doctors are not appointed soon. They said they would take the path of agitation if their demands are not addressed.
The shortage of doctors can also increase the workload on the doctors available at the hospital. Residents said that when one doctor has to attend to a larger number of patients, it can become difficult to provide sufficient time to each patient. They said adequate doctor appointments are necessary for both patients and healthcare workers.
Doctor availability has long remained a challenge for healthcare services in the hilly areas of Uttarakhand. Rural health data from the Central Government has also recorded shortages of specialist doctors at community health centres as a challenge across the country. Government data from 2016 also mentioned shortages of specialist doctors at the CHC level.
The demand raised over the Barkot CHC has also drawn attention to the broader healthcare challenge in hilly areas. Local residents said that even when a network of hospitals exists, the absence of specialist and general doctors can limit the effectiveness of hospital buildings and other facilities.
Local residents have now informed the government of their demands. The people of the area are awaiting the Health Department's decision regarding the deployment of doctors. They have said that if the long-standing problem is not resolved soon, they will launch an agitation.
