Staff shortage, BBMB hospital suspends emergency services

Arun Sharma

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Tribune News Service

Ropar, March 14

Facing acute shortage of doctors, the Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) has decided to suspend emergency services after OPD hours at its 100-bed hospital in Nangal. The hospital, which has a sanctioned strength of 15 doctors, has been running with just five doctors from the last month.

As per the Indian Public Health Standards manual, at least 28 doctors, including 11 medical officers, are required at a 100-bed hospital.

The doctors at BBMB hospitals in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh are posted on deputation from partner states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Finding it difficult to provide health services with a meagre number of doctors, the BBMB has informed the Punjab Government regarding the shutting down of emergency ward during evening and night shifts. In a letter written on March 8 to the Principal Secretary, Health, the BBMB secretary has stated that against a quota of 31 doctors of Punjab in BBMB hospitals, only 11 doctors were working. The state government has failed in filling its share of quota of remaining 20 doctors due to which the hospital at Nangal is left with five doctors. The hospital is visited by over 250 patients in the OPD every day.

BBMB Superintendent Engineer at Nangal Mohan Singh, who is also the administrative incharge of the hospital, said till last month, the hospital had eight doctors. He said during the last couple of weeks, three doctors who had been reemployed after retirement had left the hospital due to which it had become impossible to run a 24-hour emergency ward for which at least five medical officers were required.

Punjab Special Secretary, Health, Satish Chandra said a meeting with the BBMB authorities would be held. “The state government will soon recruit doctors exclusively for these hospitals.”