Kangra’s healthcare system in shambles

Despite the state government spending crores of rupees annually on healthcare, rural health services in the Kangra region remain in disarray. While officials claim that the state provides the best medical facilities, the reality is far from satisfactory. Patients suffer due to over-medication, staff shortages and a lack of essential services such as X-rays and sonography.

Many hospitals have ultrasound machines lying unused due to the absence of radiographers. Over a dozen Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and other rural health institutions in Palampur and surrounding areas have essentially become referral centres. They neither handle emergencies nor admit inpatients, often referring even minor cases to RP Government Medical College Tanda or Civil Hospital Palampur.

Despite having adequate infrastructure, routine deliveries are rarely conducted, causing significant inconvenience to the public. Some institutions record only five to six deliveries annually. First-aid is frequently unavailable for accident victims, and doctors, who earn salaries ranging from Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 1,50,000 per month, fail to provide adequate services.

Two civil hospitals, a 100-bed facility in Thural and a 50-bed facility in Bhawarna, have been under construction for six years, delayed due to lack of funds. Similarly, the construction of a Primary Health Centre in Panchrukhi, which falls under the constituency of Cabinet Minister Yadvinder Gomma, has been halted midway due to funding shortages.

Once completed, these facilities could ease the burden on Civil Hospital Palampur and Tanda Medical College. However, the slow pace of construction leaves residents with limited medical options.

Civil Hospital Palampur remains the only major healthcare centre catering to seven lakh residents of Palampur, Jaisinghpur, Baijnath and parts of Mandi district, resulting in chronic overcrowding. Although a new hospital building has become operational, only a few wards have been shifted due to staff shortages, preventing the addition of 100 more beds.

Despite having 25 doctors, the hospital lacks specialists in urology, cardiology, neurology and gastroenterology. Serious cases continue to be referred to institutions such as Tanda Medical College, PGI Chandigarh and hospitals in Punjab, causing severe inconvenience to patients from the remote areas.

The hospital was first upgraded to a 100-bed facility in 1985 and later expanded to 200 beds in 2017. However, the necessary additional staff was never provided, making it difficult to manage the increased capacity effectively.

The state government must urgently address the staffing crisis, expedite pending hospital projects and ensure rural health institutions function efficiently. Without these measures, the healthcare system in Palampur will continue to deteriorate, leaving residents with inadequate medical care.