MBBS IAS officer attends patients in block health centre, sets an example

Kolkata: In a unique gesture Akansha Vaskar, an IAS officer, has decided to examine patients at the Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC) on Saturdays.

Vaskar, a 2015 batch IAS officer, is now posted as the sub-divisional officer (SDO) at Raghunathpur in Purulia. She did her MBBS from R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and had joined the block as SDO one and a half months ago.

On Saturday, Vaskar reached the Santuri Block Primary Health Centre (BPHC) and started examining the patients. She examined 45 patients on that day and prescribed medicines. The doctor on duty was not present at the primary health centre. Apart from the doctor and a pharmacist, there are three health workers at the PHC.

Asked about the health condition of the patients she had examined, Vaskar said: "Most of them are suffering from skin disease, which is very common in the villages as people go to the ponds for bathing. Children are found to be suffering from infection in the ears because of this age old practice."

She said she was very happy as the patients, particularly the women, had talked to her about their health-related issues in details.

Vaskar said: "As the workload is less on Saturdays, I have decided to go to the Block Primary Health Centres and examine patients."

She said that she used to go to the nearby villages to examine patients, while at the Lalbahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie for training. "After coming to Purulia I thought that as a doctor it is my duty to look after patients and so I decided to use the weekly off meaningfully," she added.