New doctors are unwilling to join the Corporation hospitals,” said a senior official. Furthermore, in the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet, doctors are required to do night shifts due to the vacancies.”A few years ago, the civic body managed to fill four vacancies in the Communicable Diseases Hospital but the doctors failed to join, officials say. Shortage of medical officers continues to affect services at the Tondiarpet hospital, they added. “Many of those residing in slums are unable to get medical services at Corporation hospitals during the day as some of the doctors have to do night duty and are therefore unable to man the PHCs. Ahead of the monsoon, the Corporation has been able to get doctors only for its urban PHCs at Lakshmipuram in Madhavaram, Kasima Nagar in Tondiarpet and at Alandur.

Source: The Hindu October 24, 2016 01:57 UTC