Patients suffer as Hoshiarpur hospitals face shortage of docs

Sanjiv Kumar Bakshi

Hoshiarpur, October 9

The district Health Department is facing a shortage of doctors.

More than 30 posts of general medical officer are lying vacant at government hospitals in the district and most of the posts of specialist doctor have been lying vacant for a long time.

Doctors have to hold additional charges owing to the shortage of doctors. They often bear extra burden for treating patients.

Patients who come to government hospitals for treatment either have to return empty-handed or wait for hours in long queues. Even after standing in queues, it is not certain whether their turn will come or not.

Of the total 17 posts of medical specialist in the district, nine posts are vacant. Likewise, of the total 17 posts of surgeon, 10 are vacant. Only seven surgeons are working in the district.

The district is facing a shortage of gynaecologists. Of the total 17 posts, 14 are lying vacant.

Only three gynaecologists are working in the district. Two of them are posted at Dasuya and one is stationed at Mukerian.

Despite being equipped with almost all types of facilities, the posts of gynaecologist are lying vacant at the Hoshiarpur Civil Hospital.

The work of the gynaecologist is being done with the help of two medical specialists in the ward. But one of them is not available for over the past two months as he is on some training.

Of the total 20 posts of paediatrician in the district, 17 are lying vacant. As per the records provided by the department, there are more than 2.25 lakh children in the district — 1,68,000 of up to five years old and 56,143 of six to 16 years.

There are 75,000 children over a pediatrician.

Likewise, one of the four posts of radiologist in the district is lying vacant. According to sources in the district Health Department, in the absence of a radiologist at the sub-divisional hospital in Garhshankar, a state-of-the-art colour scan machine is lying non-functional.

Of the total 248 posts of medical officer in the district, 35 posts are lying vacant.

District Civil Surgeon Dr Renu Sood said they had been facing many problems due to the shortage of staff.

She said for the convenience of people, work was being carried out by appointing officials on deputation or by giving additional charges to them at different places once, twice or thrice in a week according to the duty roster.

She said a report regarding the shortage was sent to higher officials every month regarding vacant posts in the district.

9 posts of medical specialist lying vacant 

• Patients who come to government hospitals for treatment either have to return empty-handed or wait for hours in long queues. Even after standing in queues, it is not certain whether their turn will come or not. 
• Of the total 17 posts of medical specialist in the district, nine posts are vacant. Likewise, of the total 17 posts of surgeon, 10 are vacant. Only seven surgeons are working in the district. 
• The district is also facing a shortage of gynaecologists. Of the total 17 posts, 14 are lying vacant. Only three gynaecologists are working in the district. Two of them are posted at Dasuya and one is stationed at Mukerian.