Nerchowk college trauma centre faces docs’ shortage

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, March 17

The trauma centre of the Nerchowk medical college is facing an acute staff shortage. There are six sanctioned posts of doctors at the centre, of which three are vacant.

However, sources said three doctors had recently been transferred to the centre, but they were yet to join duty.

For the time being, the authorities have deployed other staff to look after emergency cases at the centre.

A shortage of ambulances is also posing problems in transporting patients from one hospital to another. According to official sources, there is a proposal to add 200 more beds to the 300-bed health facility within a week.

The Nerchowk medical college caters to patients from Lahaul-Spiti, Kullu, Mandi and Bilaspur districts. Earlier, they had to travel either to the IGMC, Shimla, or the PGI, Chandigarh, to take treatment for chronic illness.

Residents of Mandi zone have been demanding that the medical college should be fully equipped and has adequate health staff and infrastructure so that people are not forced to travel to far-off places.

Dr Rajneesh Pathania, Principal of the medical college, said, “There are six sanctioned posts of doctor for the trauma centre to provide emergency services round the clock. Three doctors are expected to join soon as their transfer orders have been issued by the government. For the time being, we have deployed doctors from other departments at the trauma centre.”

He said they had also written to the higher authorities for two more ambulances for emergency services. At present, there were 300 beds at the hospital. Additional 200 would be added in the next few days.