According to residents, the situation has raised concerns about the city's public health infrastructure and the well-being of its underserved communities.
Published Mar 06, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 06, 2025 | 3:24 PM
The PHC in Perumbakkam has a shortage of doctors. It is also underdeveloped.
Synopsis: The PHCs in Chennai are grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, leaving thousands of residents struggling to access basic medical care. Beyond the shortage of doctors, the PHC in Kannagi Nagar suffers from crumbling infrastructure, further limiting its ability to provide quality healthcare. Residents also pointed out that even when doctors are available, they rarely conduct thorough examinations.
As the capital city of Tamil Nadu, Chennai is expected to have top-notch government healthcare facilities. However, the residents say otherwise.
The primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Chennai, especially in areas like Kannagi Nagar, Chemmenjeri and Perumbakkam, are grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, leaving thousands of residents struggling to access basic medical care.
According to residents, the situation has raised concerns about the city’s public health infrastructure and the well-being of its underserved communities.
Kannagi Nagar, Chemmenjeri and Perumbakkam, home to many relocated families from different parts of the city, rely heavily on government-run PHCs for medical assistance.
However, with only a handful of doctors available, patients are often forced to wait long hours or travel long distances to seek treatment elsewhere.
Rani, a mother of two, shared her experience with South First, “My son had a high fever a few months ago, and I rushed to the PHC, only to find that no doctor was available. The nurse gave some basic medicine, but I had to take him to a private clinic, which cost more than I could afford.”
Another resident, Muthu, added, “The doctors are here only till noon. After that, there is nobody to treat us. If we need urgent care, we have to go all the way to the general hospital, which is far from here.”
PHC in Kannagi Nagar displaying poor infrastructure.
According to the 2022 Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS), PHCs should provide out-patient services for at least four hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon or evening.
Emergency services, including injury management and patient stabilisation, should be available 24/7. However, residents of Kannagi Nagar, Chemmenjeri and Perumbakkam said these guidelines are not being followed effectively.
The IPHS 2022 guidelines stress that the “time to care” should not exceed 30 minutes from the farthest village, ensuring timely access to healthcare services.
It also suggests that Primary Health Centres (PHCs) conducting deliveries should ideally function as 24×7 facilities.
However, not all PHCs are required to provide round-the-clock services; they should prioritise routine care and preventive health interventions.
Isaiarasu, a resident of Chennai who has been well aware of the happenings in Kannagi Nagar, told South First: “There are supposed to be doctors assigned for different days to handle various health issues, but even that system doesn’t always work. We often come and are told to return the next day because the specialist isn’t available. What if it’s an emergency?”
Beyond the shortage of doctors, the PHC in Kannagi Nagar suffers from crumbling infrastructure, further limiting its ability to provide quality healthcare.
Patients report that the facility lacks sufficient seating, proper ventilation, and basic hygiene standards.
The waiting area is often overcrowded and people are forced to stand outside in the heat. Water supply issues and broken restroom facilities make it even more difficult for patients, especially the elderly and pregnant women, to endure long wait times.
Sundari, a senior citizen, shared her experience with South First, “The condition of this PHC is terrible. There are no proper chairs, and we have to wait outside for hours. The place is always dirty, and sometimes, even drinking water is unavailable.”
A local activist Kumar S added, “A healthcare facility should be a place of comfort and safety. But here, people hesitate to even sit inside because of the unhygienic conditions.”
Residents whom South First spoke to emphasised the difficulty of not having a doctor available at odd hours. Since they cannot afford private healthcare, they often delay seeking treatment.
Selvi, a resident of Chemmenjeri, shared her concerns, “If someone falls sick in the evening, no one is there at the PHC to help. The doctors leave by noon, and after that, the place is empty. We don’t know where to go for immediate treatment.”
Ramesh, another resident, added that most of them could not afford private clinics. “If they don’t have money, they just wait a day or two until a doctor is available. This is their reality,” he said.
Lakshmi, a domestic worker in the area, echoed similar sentiments and said, “We are so used to this situation that we don’t even complain anymore. If we don’t get treated, we return the next day, hoping the doctor is there.”
Prescriptions given to patients in a piece of paper
Residents also pointed out that even when doctors are available, they rarely conduct thorough examinations. Many claim that doctors simply prescribe tablets without properly diagnosing patients.
An elderly woman, Meenakshi, shared her ordeal with South First, “For months, my husband had no improvement at all. Every time we visited, the doctor just gave him some tablets and sent us home. We had no choice but to take him to a private hospital, where they found out his condition was serious.”
Another resident, Chitra (name changed) added, “They don’t even touch the patients properly to check what’s wrong, they look at us like we are dirty and untouchable. They just give random tablets and move on to the next patient.”
The absence of enough medical professionals has particularly impacted maternal and child healthcare. Pregnant women requiring routine check-ups and vaccinations for newborns face long delays, increasing the risk of complications, said residents.
Many expectant mothers report being sent to government hospitals or private centers instead of being treated at the PHC.
“They told me to go to GH (general hospital) because they didn’t have the facilities to handle my condition,” said Kavitha (name changed), who is in her seventh month of pregnancy. “But traveling all the way there is difficult, and waiting times are long.”
Another young mother, Meena, shared her struggle and said, “I came in the afternoon for my baby’s vaccination, but the doctor was already gone. The staff told me to come back the next morning, but I cannot keep taking leave from work.”
Residents also complained about how they think the doctors there are trainees and do not have supervisors to oversee the prescriptions.
PHC in Kannagi Nagar.
According to a report, The Tamil Nadu government has launched several initiatives to enhance public healthcare infrastructure, particularly in underserved areas like Kannagi Nagar, Chemmenjeri and Perumbakkam.
To address the shortage of medical professionals, the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB) has announced the recruitment of 2,553 doctors, with examinations scheduled for 27 January 2025.
Despite government initiatives, residents of Kannagi Nagar, Chemmenjeri and Perumbakkam continue to struggle with inadequate healthcare services and are demanding urgent action.
They emphasised the need for more permanent doctors, better infrastructure, and stricter oversight to ensure quality medical care. Many argue that schemes like Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam provide some relief, but they cannot replace fully functional PHCs with trained medical professionals.
“We need real doctors here daily, not just temporary staff or trainees. Our lives are at stake,” said Rajeshwari, a resident.
Community members have urged authorities to conduct regular inspections, improve accountability, and ensure essential services are available round the clock. Until these demands are met, they fear that public health in these areas will continue to suffer.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
