Protest Erupts Over Palghar's Failing Healthcare System

A protest involving about 100 social workers, healthcare employees, NGOs, and activists occurred on Tuesday at the Jawhar Additional Collector's office. They are demanding immediate action to address Palghar's critical healthcare situation.

Activists highlighted that eleven years after Palghar's creation to combat malnutrition and poor health services, promised facilities such as a district hospital, trauma centre, and women's hospital are still unfinished. Official records from the Palghar Zilla Parishad Health Department indicate 811 sanctioned posts are vacant, including 138 women health workers and 50 medical officers.

An ASHA worker described frequent issues like absent ambulance drivers in emergencies, leading to preventable deaths of mothers and newborns. Primary Health Centres often lack doctors, and essential medicines are missing. Rural hospitals suffer from a shortage of gynecologists, who visit only twice a month, and a lack of transportation.

A district officer acknowledged funding delays as the cause for slowed progress. The District Hospital received an allocation of ₹209 crore, and the Trauma Centre ₹120 crore. While the district hospital is about 75% complete since 2022, the trauma centre, sanctioned in 2019, is structurally ready but not operational.

Sujata Ayarkar Dadode of Palghar Samajik Kruti Gath stated that despite Palghar becoming a district eleven years ago to improve healthcare, promised facilities are still missing. She contrasted the allocation of funds for infrastructure projects with the neglect of essential health services, noting that a ready trauma hospital building in Manor remains closed, preventing residents from seeking care locally.