Medical Facilities For Police And Families: 17 Doctors For 70 Police Hospitals Across Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The police department is running 70 hospitals and dispensaries across Madhya Pradesh to provide medical facilities to police personnel and their families, however, in all 17 doctors are posted in these healthcare centres across the state.

Only 17 medical facilities run by the police department have doctors that too one each. Other facilities continue to grapple with an acute shortage of doctors as most of the posts are lying vacant.

These medical facilities were established to serve the healthcare needs of 1.6 lakh police personnel and around 5 lakh of their family members. However, due to the acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, police personnel are often forced to seek treatment at private or other government hospitals. This situation has been prevailing for the last many years.

Many of the doctors currently posted are nearing retirement and by next year, the number of available doctors – which is merely 17, is expected to fall even further.

Recently, Dr Fazilat Khanam, who was posted at the hospital of the 23rd Battalion in Bhopal, retired, and her position has remained vacant since. Appointments to these hospitals are made by the health department on a deputation basis.

The state government had given permission to establish hospitals and dispensaries in 70 police units across the state and had entrusted their operation to the police department. However, the responsibility of deploying doctors and paramedical staff lies with the health department, which was expected to send staff on deputation.

No help from health department !

For the last five years, top police officials have been regularly corresponding with the health department seeking deputation of doctors and paramedical staff at the healthcare facilities. However, the authorities concerned are yet to take any concrete step as many posts continue to lie vacant. With no doctors available, many of these healthcare facilities have become useless , serving no purpose. Even for minor injuries requiring basic dressing, personnel are referred to other hospitals.

“Letters have been regularly written by the police to the health department, requesting posting of doctors in dispensaries and hospitals in all units. A cashless treatment facility is also being provided in private hospitals so that policemen and their families do not face difficulties.”

Anshuman Agarwal, AIG Welfare

Units running sans doctors

District Force:  Balaghat, Bhind, Chhindwara, Damoh, Datia, Dewas, Dhar, Guna, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Jhabua, Khandwa, Mandla, Narsinghpur, Panna, Raisen, Rajgarh, Ratlam, Sagar, Seoni, Shahdol, Shajapur, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Tikamgarh, Vidisha.

SAF, other units

5th SAF Battalion Morena, 17th Battalion Bhind, 26th Battalion Guna, 2nd Battalion Gwalior, 13th Battalion Gwalior, 18th Battalion Shivpuri, 7th Battalion Bhopal, JNPA Sagar, RAPTC Indore, 24th Battalion Javra, 34th Battalion Dhar, 8th Battalion Chhindwara, 9th Battalion Rewa, 35th Battalion Mandla, PTS Rewa, PTC Indore, PTS Umaria, PTS Bhauri (Bhopal), PTS Sagar, Hawk Force, 1st Battalion SISF Rewa, 2nd Battalion SISF Singrauli

The lucky 17

District units including Betul, Chhatarpur, Hoshangabad, Khargone, Mandsaur, Satna and Ujjain have one doctor each at the healthcare facility. Similarly, 29th SAF Battalion Datia, 14th Battalion Gwalior, 25th Battalion Bhopal, 1st Battalion Indore, 15th Battalion Indore, 32nd Battalion Ujjain, 6th Battalion Jabalpur, 10th Battalion Sagar, PTS Pachmarhi and PTS Tigra (Gwalior) have one doctor posted.