Residents put to hardship due to inadequate doctors at Greater Chennai Corporation hospitals

Residents in Chennai complain about inadequate doctors at GCC hospitals, urging for improved services and more recruitment.

Residents across the city have complained about inadequate doctors at Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) hospitals, particularly urban primary health centres (UPHCs). According to estimates, more than 120 doctors have to be recruited to fill these vacancies.

K.S. Kannan of Mugalivakkam said doctors were absent when he visited the UPHC in ward 156. “The hospital was open on May 1. But the doctor was absent. Nurses at the hospital said the doctors did not come because May 1 was a holiday. I have complained to the Chief Minister’s Office. Residents have requested the GCC to improve the services at UPHCs. The hospitals should remain open on holidays and Sundays.”

He added that another issue was that the UPHC did not provide a prescription to patients. “As we did not have the prescription with us, we could not answer the doctors’ question when we visited for a review a few days later,” Mr. Kanan said.

Ward 35 councillor S. Jeevan said residents had complained about the absence of doctors at the UPHC in his ward.

“The doctors are not paid well. So, they quit after a few months. This problem has persisted for two years, but the civic body has not taken any steps to address it. The doctors at the GCC’s hospitals must be paid decently if it expects them to continue working there. Over 70% of residents in my ward depend on the UPHC for healthcare. The GCC should keep UPHCs open on Sundays and give half-day off to doctors on Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

Geetha Ganesh, secretary of AGS Colony Residents’ Welfare Association, said residents had been demanding the civic body to hire psychiatrists and dermatologists at the health and wellness centre in the area. Officials of the GCC said it would hire 120 doctors soon.