Despite the Health and Family Welfare Minister, Col Dhani Ram Shandil, representing Solan district, villagers say rural areas continue to suffer from inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Residents of remote villages are often compelled to travel 25 to 35 km to Solan for even basic diagnostic tests and routine treatment.
The situation remains particularly grim in villages such as Shiller, Kanda, Katli and Sanawar, where residents claim there are no facilities even for administering injections. Villagers say the situation has remained largely unchanged for decades.
“Claims of spending crores on strengthening healthcare make little sense when people have to travel several kilometres even for an injection or consultation for ailments such as ulcers, dental problems, eye diseases or routine gynaecological issues,” rued Neetu, a resident of Kanda village.
Ajay, a resident of a nearby village, pointed out that Katli village, located about 5 km from Dharampur, still lacks road connectivity. “Critically ill patients have to be carried manually for nearly 1.5 km before reaching the nearest motorable road. The nearest health facility is at Dharampur,” he said.
An assessment of healthcare institutions in the Kasauli constituency reveals glaring staff shortages. The Community Health Centre (CHC) at Dharampur, which caters to 38 panchayats, remains severely understaffed. Against a sanctioned strength of eight medical officers, only two are currently posted there.
With an average outpatient load of nearly 150 patients daily, the doctors are already overburdened. Frequent VIP visits further strain services, as one doctor is often deputed for protocol duties.
Situated on the busy Parwanoo-Solan highway, the CHC also handles numerous road accident cases. However, apart from providing first aid and preliminary treatment, most emergency patients are referred either to Solan or a private medical college at Sultanpur, around 15 km away.
To cope with the patient influx, doctors from nearby public health centres are frequently deputed to Dharampur, leaving their parent institutions without medical officers for days. Public Health Centres at Chamia and Pratha are currently functioning largely with paramedical staff due to the absence of doctors.
Dr Parminder, Block Medical Officer, Dharampur, said while the CHC and eight Public Health Centres under the block have only eight doctors in position, seven sanctioned posts remain vacant.
As PRI poll candidates seek votes by promising better healthcare facilities, villagers remain sceptical, pointing out that Solan district has had three Health Ministers over the past two decades, yet little has changed on the ground.
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