Security guard doubles as pharmacist in government hospital of Odisha’s Ganjam; video goes viral

Chikiti: A security guard has been providing the services of a pharmacist to patients coming to Chikiti Gada community health centre (CHC) for the past five days due to an acute staff crunch in the government-run health facility of Odisha’s Ganjam district, a source said.

However, a video of the man on act went viral on different social media platforms, today.

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According to the source, the hospital was earlier functioning with a medical in-charge, an Ayush doctor, a pharmacist, a staff nurse, an ANM worker and a laboratory technician. Except for medical in-charge Dr Prabhu Prasad Panda, all other staff were gradually transferred elsewhere in a month.

After the pharmacist was transferred to a health centre in Narendrapur, the security guard started doing the former’s work as a large number of patients usually visit the hospital every day.

“Patients from nearby rural areas are shifted every day from the CHC to MKCG Hospital in Berhampur as there is acute staff crunch in Chikiti Gada health centre,” many locals rued.

When contacted, Ganjam chief district medical officer (CDMO) Umashankar Mishra said, “The vacant posts including pharmacist and all other positions will be filled up soon.”