Amid Covid surge, Tanda hospital faces staff crunch

Lalit Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 17

Following a sudden spurt in Covid cases, the Tanda medical college authorities have expressed concern over the shortage of staff at this biggest government health facility in lower Himachal.

The super specialty wing of the medical college has been converted into a Covid hospital. The college authorities have written to the state government, seeking more medical and other staff at least on a par with the IGMC, Shimla.

Sources said the college had a shortage of faculty members in almost all departments, including radiotherapy, neuropathy, urology, gastroenterology, ENT and gynaecology, as compared to the IGMC. There was also a shortage of medical assistants, ward sisters, staff nurses, ward boys, sweepers, midwives and ANMs as compared to their strength in the IGMC, Shimla.

They said that the leaders of both Opposition and ruling party had also raised concern over the shortage of doctors and other medical staff at the medical college.

Minister for Forest Rakesh Pathania said that it was worrisome that there was no nephrologist at the hospital. He added that a BJYM leader from Chamba was admitted to the hospital and he might need dialysis, a facility not available.

He said that the lone nephrologist had been sent to the IGMC on deputation though the Shimla hospital already had three or four specialists. He demanded that a nephrology expert be immediately sent to Tanda.

GS Bali, a former minister and senior Congress leader, alleged that separate cadres had been created for the Tanda medical college and the IGMC, as most doctors want to go to Shimla. However, the government was sending doctors from the Tanda college to Shimla on deputation on political considerations.

Dr Bhanu Awasthi, principal of Tanda medical college, said that they had apprised the government of the issue. He added that the college staff was working hard and catering to all patients.