State faces acute shortage of medical, paramedical staff

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 14

The health services in the state are ailing with an acute shortage of medical and paramedical staff. Sample this: in all, 2,651 medical officers (MOs) are working against the sanctioned strength of 3,098 — a shortage of 447 MOs.

The information has been furnished in an affidavit by Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary (Health), in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in an ongoing case.

The affidavit also states that the Health Department faces a shortage of 151 senior medical officers (SMOs), as 394 SMOs are working against the sanctioned strength of 454.

There are five vacant posts of Civil Surgeon/Principal Medical Officer as 34 posts have been filled against 39 sanctioned posts.

As for the paramedical staff, 1,432 posts of a staff nurse are vacant; 2,224 nurses are working against 3,656 posts. There are only 701 pharmacists as against 1,024 sanctioned posts, leaving a shortage of 323 posts.

In all, 115 posts of a dental assistant are vacant, with 147 out of 262 sanctioned posts filled. Only one dental hygienist is working against the sanctioned strength of 27.

Only seven physiotherapists working in state hospitals against 46 posts, while 75 ophthalmic assistants are working against 188 posts.

The state is also facing a shortage of 450 lab technicians. There are only 394 technicians working against the sanctioned strength of 934. Meanwhile, only 109 radiographers are working against 299 posts — a shortage of 190 posts.

While there are only 28 ECG assistants against 81 posts, there is a shortage of 131 operation theatre assistants against sanctioned posts of 280.

The state faces a shortage of 559 multi-purpose health workers (MPHW-women) against the sanctioned strength of 2,654, while there is a shortage of 523 MPHW (men) against 2,551 posts.

Haryana has a network of 3,294 health institutions, including 59 hospitals, 119 Community Health Centres, 486 Primary Health Centres and 2,630 sub-centres.

The affidavit stated the process of selection to several posts was in progress and candidates would be recruited soon.