Doctor shortage hits Emergency Wing at Faridabad Civil Hospital
The emergency wing of Faridabad’s 200-bedded Civil Hospital continues to grapple with severe doctor shortage and it is operating with only two medical officers instead of the required six. Despite appointments by the Health Department, six doctors have failed to join duty, exacerbating the crisis.
To cope, the hospital has been deploying field doctors on deputation, but insiders reveal that this temporary fix is insufficient. “The Casualty section requires at least six doctors, but it has been relying on just two to three doctors, leading to patient care challenges,” a hospital employee said on the condition of anonymity.
The situation becomes critical at night, when doctors are often unavailable to treat serious cases. Additionally, a shortage of General Duty Assistants (GDAs) further strains hospital operations.
Information obtained under the RTI Act by local resident Ajay Saini revealed that six appointed doctors failed to report for duty between 2014 and 2023. Shockingly, one doctor has been absent since November 24, 2014, without any formal notification to the department, yet no termination orders have been issued.
Currently, the hospital is operating with 41 doctors against a sanctioned strength of 55, leaving crucial specialties vacant, including radiology, psychiatry, forensic, neurosurgery and gastroenterology. The absence of a radiologist means ultrasound procedures are handled by a Deputy CMO as a part-time arrangement.
Adding to patient woes, activist Satish Chopra, who has been on a 71-day sit-in demanding a Trauma Centre, claims that the hospital suffers from a 20-30% medicine shortage at any given time.
However, Dr Vikas Goel, Principal Medical Officer (PMO), refuted this, stating that retired doctors have been hired to fill gaps and there is no shortage of medicines.
