Karkala: Not long ago, the taluk hospital maternity wing was buzzing with activity where one could witness many pregnant women with labour pains walking in to deliver babies and walking out happily with their newborns in their arms. Cries of newborns use to fill the surroundings and the family members led by grandparents rushing to see the newborns were a treat to watch.

In quick time, the scenario has changed all due to the apathy of the state health department. All beds are vacant mainly due to non availability of Government doctors in the hospital. In the 50-bed hospital, 30 normal deliveries and 20 caesarian deliveries was just a common feature every month. Women from Moodibidri, Belthangady, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Udupi used to benefit from the hospital which was known for its quality service.

Problems started when hospital chief surgeon Dr. Vikram Hebbar fell ill and shifted to a private hospital in Mangaluru on June 19 after his health condition deteriorated. Dr. Desha working at the hospital under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) program resigned and joined nearby ESI hospital.

The health department asked one Dr. Ranjith Naik to perform duties on a temporary basis on Monday and Thursday every week when there was no one to attend the patients. However, that move has not yielded desired results due to uncertainty and now most beds in the hospital lie vacant.

Former Chief Minister and Chikkaballapur Congress MP Veerappa Moily, a native of Karkala worked towards extending the existing facility with financial assistance to the tune of Rs 1 crore from ONGC and the new building is almost complete.

Unfortunately, doctors are not available when the hospital is getting equipped to handle more patients.

Zilla Panchayth standing committee chairman for Health, Uday Kotian has assured of finding an immediate solution to the problem after talking to district surgeon.