10 years on, post of radiologist lying vacant at Paonta Sahib hospital

An unused ultrasound machine, locked consultation rooms and unanswered pleas paint a distressing picture at the Civil Hospital in Paonta Sahib, where the post of radiologist has remained vacant since 2015. For nearly a decade, the hospital has functioned without this crucial specialist, leaving thousands of pregnant women — particularly from remote and underserved areas of Sirmaur district — without access to life-saving diagnostic services guaranteed under national maternal health programmes.

Despite budget allocations and repeated government assurances, the hospital’s Radiology Department remains non-functional. The state-of-the-art ultrasound machine lies unused, gathering dust, while expectant mothers are forced to turn to private clinics — often at great financial and emotional cost — for essential scans that should be provided free under schemes such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan.

In 2022, the state government announced the recruitment of four medical officers for the hospital, including a radiologist. While three positions were filled, the radiologist’s post remains conspicuously vacant. A fleeting glimmer of hope came when Dr Malvika was briefly posted after public protests ahead of the last Assembly elections — but she was transferred within months, leaving the post vacant again.

For women from far-flung areas such as Shillai, Ronhat, and Kaffota, the absence of diagnostic services means not only financial burden but also serious health risks. “I had to travel over four hours and spend more than

Rs 1,200 for a routine scan,” said Sarla Devi, a daily wager and mother of two from Shillai. “Doctors ask for multiple scans. How can someone like me afford that?” she said.

Community leaders and civil society groups are growing vocal. “This is more than administrative neglect — it’s systemic apathy towards rural healthcare,” said Rattan Singh Chauhan, a social worker from Shillai. “What’s the point of talking about women empowerment if basic healthcare isn’t accessible to pregnant women?” Chauhan said.

Despite memorandums and repeated appeals to the Health Department, no concrete steps have been taken. Sirmaur’s Chief Medical Office Dr Amitabh Jain acknowledged the long-standing vacancy. “We’ve repeatedly raised the issue with higher authorities,” he said. “As an interim solution, we’re working on an MoU with private ultrasound centres in Paonta Sahib. Once finalised, pregnant women will be able to avail services free of cost, funded by the government,” he said.

However, with no clear timeline and a legacy of broken promises, public skepticism runs high.

Paonta Sahib is not an isolated case, but a reflection of deeper structural issues plaguing rural healthcare. Despite Himachal Pradesh’s progress in improving healthcare access, persistent specialist shortages — particularly in radiology — continue to undermine the effectiveness of flagship health programmes.

Experts say the root cause of the problem lies in unattractive rural postings, lack of incentives for specialists and slow bureaucratic processes. Without meaningful intervention — whether through permanent recruitment, contractual specialists, or robust public-private partnerships — vulnerable women will continue to pay the price.

As the hospital enters its tenth year without a radiologist, the demand is no longer for promises — but for accountability, transparency and urgent action. For pregnant women of Paonta Sahib, hope remains locked inside a darkened ultrasound room — waiting for someone to finally turn the power back on.