Additional staff sought for Kullu hospital

The management of the Regional Hospital, Kullu, has submitted a proposal to the state government seeking the recruitment of 49 additional staff members. The request includes the hiring of two specialists and seven medical officers to strengthen the maternal and child healthcare unit.

According to Dr Nagraj, Chief Medical Officer, Kullu, the Regional Hospital earlier was a 300-bed facility. On June 18, 2022, the government inaugurated a 100-bed capacity Maternal Child Health section in it. The total capacity of the hospital thus increased to 400 beds. Though the number of beds increased, the health staff strength remained unchanged. As a result, burden on the existing staff to provide healthcare services to an additional number of patients increased manifold.

“At present, medical professionals and paramedical staff are running the hospital with the help of the existing staff but the shortage is affecting services as patients from Kullu, Lahaul-Spiti and Pangi in Chamba as well as from Drang, Balichowki and Gada Gushaini in Mandi district come to the hospital,” he added.

Dr Nagraj said, “The hospital administration has sent a file to the authorities in Shimla, demanding the filling of 49 vacant posts, including one gynaecologist and one paediatrician for the maternal and child healthcare unit. The proposal also seeks the recruitment of seven Medical Officers, 14 staff nurses, one matron, four ward sisters, five senior technicians, six pharmacy officers, two operating theatre assistants, and 10 Class IV employees.”

Meanwhile, local residents have also stressed the urgent need for additional staff in the maternal and child healthcare unit, highlighting that with no medical college in the district, the Regional Hospital must provide comprehensive healthcare facilities. They have urged the government to expedite the recruitment process to meet the community’s healthcare needs.