Karkala: The quarters for the staff at taluk government hospital is in dilapidated over the last ten years. It is sad that 10% of the salary of the hospital staff staying at the quarters is deducted for the maintenance of the quarters, but the state of these buildings make it evident that the money thus deducted is not being utilised for the said purpose.

The hospital, which turned into a taluk public hospital in 1990 has 14 quarters which are in poor condition without proper maintenance The quarters belongs to Primary health assistant, Pharmacist, permanent nurses and doctors. The doctor’s quarters which is vacant is being used by the labourers illegally. The staff staying here have repaired with little savings and have been living here. The roof of the buildings are in precarious condition.

The 6 quarters built by KHSDP in 2005 have ceilings that are in precarious state and the sewage from the toilets too have been flowing out in open due to old, broken pipelines. If the government constructs new building at the same place, several staff working here will be benefited.

Lack of staff

In the hospital there are 40 permanent staff and 39 posts are still vacant. Patients suffer due to absence of doctors as crucial posts like that of duty doctor, surgeon, administrative officer among others are vacant at the hospital.

Anusuya, assistant administrative officer said that earlier 10% salary deducted for the maintenance was transferred to public works department. “We had written to the public works department to repair the quarters but there was no response. Hence we have been transferring the deducted amount to Health department,” she added.