Across 63 Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) and Wellness centres in Coimbatore, vacancies occur frequently for four posts, namely — doctor, nurse, staff, and administrator — an official from the Health Department at the Coimbatore City Municipal Corporation said.
During the monthly council meeting held on Friday, several ward councillors raised concerns over the working of UPHCs, stating that they are either shut or function for a limited duration in a day.
“Despite the availability of good facilities at UPHCs, they remain closed during the day when pregnant women, children and senior citizens visit for check-ups,” said N. Malathi, councillor of Ward 34.
In response to these concerns, the official stated that frequent vacancies occur when doctors, nurses, and staff quit for high-paying jobs in private hospitals and clinics. “While sufficient members are found to be working at the beginning of the month, towards the end, most of them leave,” the official added.
At present, a qualified general physician living near the health centre can volunteer for the role. They can also choose their working hours based on which, doctors are assigned different shifts. The same is followed for nurses and other staff working at the health centre.
A staff member at a UPHC in Singanallur told The Hindu, “The pay depends on the hours one works. It ranges between ₹600-800 per day. This is the third UPHC I am working and it is not my main profession. We all mostly work here for the additional pay.”
In a bid to keep the posts filled and ensure the smooth operation of these centres, Corporation Health Department has been issuing circulars citing vacancies for interested people to apply for various positions. “This month, there are 34 vacancies, and each month, we ensure that they are filled,” the official said.
Published - December 23, 2023 05:14 pm IST
