With 1 Doctor Every 20,000 Patients, UP Government Hospitals Need Care | Read

At the elite, specialised government hospital in Firozabad town, western Uttar Pradesh, the biggest government health facility in the area, not a single ultrasound has been performed in the last 24 hours. There is just one radiologist at the hospital and he has fractured his hand - meaning all the patients are being forced to go to expensive private hospitals. Ideally, a government hospital at this level should have at least 5 doctors, who can perform ultrasounds. "We had two doctors earlier. One retired last year... We are trying to minimise inconvenience to patients. The doctor who is hurt, hopes to be back soon," says Dr RK Pandey, the Chief Medical Officer of Firozabad. Across the state, glaring gaps in infrastructure, manpower and delivery mechanisms in government hospitals have led to UP placing at the bottom of the country's health rankings again.