The Hindu: Kodaikanal: Thursday, March 20, 2025.
Of the 12 sanctioned doctors
posts in Kodaikanal Government Hospital, only six posts were filled, and
remaining posts were vacant, revealed a Right to Information (RTI) Act reply.
In addition, of the sanctioned 24 helpers positions about 15 positions remained vacant, the reply added.
A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, who procured data through RTI said, the number of doctors as against the number of patients visiting the hospital was very less.
“ In 2023 alone, 13,623 inpatients and 1,35,307 outpatients were registered in the hospital. In 2024, it was 12,869 inpatients and 1,26,026 outpatients. More than 200 normal deliveries and 157 C-sections were performed in the hospital,” she added.
All the critical cases received in the six Primary Health Centres (PHC) located in and around Kodaikanal would be referred to the GH, she noted.
In such a case, the strength of the hospital staff should be in full capacity to manage the workload, Ms. Veronica Mary added.
Not only the villagers, but many tourists who gets injured in accidents, snake bites, or those who survived suicide attempts, among others were all taken only to the GH for treatment, she pointed out.
“Due to less number of staff, patients, who are mostly from the tribal community, are asked to visit Batlagundu or Dindigul GHs. With poor transport facilities they have to wait for days together to travel to the hospitals located in the plains,” she alleged.
The three-hour travel to other hospitals would be a stressful trip for people who were already suffering from health issues, she said.
In addition, of the sanctioned 24 helpers positions about 15 positions remained vacant, the reply added.
A. Veronica Mary, a health activist based in Madurai, who procured data through RTI said, the number of doctors as against the number of patients visiting the hospital was very less.
“ In 2023 alone, 13,623 inpatients and 1,35,307 outpatients were registered in the hospital. In 2024, it was 12,869 inpatients and 1,26,026 outpatients. More than 200 normal deliveries and 157 C-sections were performed in the hospital,” she added.
All the critical cases received in the six Primary Health Centres (PHC) located in and around Kodaikanal would be referred to the GH, she noted.
In such a case, the strength of the hospital staff should be in full capacity to manage the workload, Ms. Veronica Mary added.
Not only the villagers, but many tourists who gets injured in accidents, snake bites, or those who survived suicide attempts, among others were all taken only to the GH for treatment, she pointed out.
“Due to less number of staff, patients, who are mostly from the tribal community, are asked to visit Batlagundu or Dindigul GHs. With poor transport facilities they have to wait for days together to travel to the hospitals located in the plains,” she alleged.
The three-hour travel to other hospitals would be a stressful trip for people who were already suffering from health issues, she said.
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