The Indian system of medicines (ISM) hospitals and teaching institutions in Tamil Nadu are reeling under the issue of severe shortage of medical officers and doctors which is adversely affecting the smooth functioning of these institutions. The monitoring system of these institutions in the state has literally come into a standstill, according to doctors and general public.

According to sources, District Siddha Medical Officers of 14 districts in the state are lying vacant for the last few months. Prominent districts where DSMOs posts are lying vacant include Ramanathapuram, Madurai, Dindigul, Tuticorin and Kanyakumari. In these districts, ASMOs have been given the charge.

The absence of DSMOs is not only affecting the administration badly, it also causes discontinuation of supply of essential drugs from district level to ISM PHCs. There are over 600 ISM hospitals in Tamil Nadu. Due to the lack of doctors, lecturers of teaching hospitals are being deputed to look after Siddha, Ayurveda and Unani wings of the hospitals.

Sources form the ISM directorate said five doctors each from the Government Siddha Medical Colleges at Palayamcottai and Chennai have been posted on deputation to five hospitals to look after the Unani division. The hospitals are getting only two days service from the doctors. The colleges are getting very less service from these teacher-cum-doctors.

Besides these grave issues, majority of the PHCs, Taluk hospitals, and district hospitals are not getting sufficient medicines on time for several months, sources said. Medicines to these hospitals are supplied by Tampcol, a corporation under government of Tamil Nadu. But it is able to supply only 50 kinds of medicines. Doctors in the ISM sector said the ISM Hospital Pharmacopoeia mentions about 400 medicines and the Essential Drug List of Ayush describes 180 medicines. But the manufacturer and supplier, Tampcol can produce and supply only 50 kinds of medicines. Most of the time, the department is procuring medicines from private manufacturers on contract basis. Now, some of the channel of supply has discontinued for more than one year, it is learnt.

When contacted, sources from the ISM Directorate said that the directorate has sent proposal to the government for filling up of the vacancies of DSMOs, and it will be filled soon. Regarding deputation of lecturers to hospitals, the officials said, the arrangement has been done without affecting the colleges.