Ayurveda at Udupi hospital in pathetic state

Ayurveda at Udupi hospital in pathetic state

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, July 23, 2014: Serious neglect of basic facilities, medicines and non-payment of salaries has crippled the functioning of the Ayurveda wing of the Ayush Department at the district government hospital Udupi.   The wing started functioning at the district government hospital Udupi on March 28, 2010,  offering outpatient treatment.  On an average, about 50 patients are treated, while about a few are given ‘panchakarma’ treatments.

Yet this wing has not got any supply of medicines, since March this year. Though the doctors have been sending indents to the Director of Ayush in Bangalore, through the district surgeon for the last three months, they haven’t received supplies because of lack of funds.

Most patients visit this wing for treatment of ailments including arthritis, allergy and skin problems. “As there are no medicines, we give medicine samples which we receive, to the needy. If some ask for prescription, we give it to them. Else, we refer them to the nearby Homeopathy or Unani wing. We do not turn back the patients,” said a doctor.

There is  not even a toilet. The door of the only toilet is broken. It is attached to the ‘panchakarma’ room, which means it can not be normally used. An intern from SDM College of Ayurveda, said compared to her college hospital, the facilities at this wing were very poor. “Lack of facilities affects the overall functioning of the wing and patients,” she said.

Two postgraduate Ayurveda doctors, two nurses, two ‘panchakarma’ assistants and one office assistant were appointed on contract basis in March, 2010. All seven of them still continue on contract basis despite repeated assurances by authorities and politicians that their services would be regularised.  None of these seven members have received salaries since March. A nurse said due to non-payment of salary, she had to borrow money from friends and relatives to meet household expenses.

Despite all these problems, patients are all praise for the treatment given here. One person who had come for treatment of waist pain said that the treatment given here was excellent.  District surgeon Anand Naik said the matter had been brought to the notice of the Directorate of Ayush in Bangalore and hopefully some attention will result.