Shantipuri-Bindukhatta locals suffer as 35k rely on lone health centre

RUDRAPUR: Around 35,000 residents from the Shantipuri-Bindukhatta area located near Pantnagar in Udham Singh Nagar district are relying on a single doctor at the local primary health centre (PHC).
Established in the 1980s, the PHC has seen no significant upgrades in over four decades, despite the population having quadrupled.
The PHC staff includes one doctor, a pharmacist, a ward boy, a cleaner, a staff nurse, and an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM).After 2pm, emergency services are handled solely by the ANM. The centre sees 80-90 outpatients daily but can only admit two patients at a time.
The hospital's infrastructure has severely deteriorated, with leaking roofs forcing pregnant women to deliver under substandard conditions. Residences for doctors and staff, located next to the hospital, are also in disrepair, with plasterless walls, leaking roofs, and overgrown grass posing a risk of snakes and pests.
During an inspection, chief medical officer Dr Manoj Sharma said, "The hospital building is old, and the roof is leaking. The hospital has not yet submitted a proposal for repairs. It is essential to upgrade the centre in line with the growing population, and a proposal will be requested."