NGOs raise alarm over staff shortage at Tanda medical college

Seven non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from Kangra district have jointly urged the Himachal Pradesh Government to take immediate and decisive steps to improve the deteriorating condition of Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (Tanda medical college), the premier referral hospital serving the lower hill districts of the state.

The NGOs who signed the memorandum include Peoples Voice, Palampur Senior Citizen Council, Save Palampur, Kangra People’s Health Care, Palampur Welfare Council and the Changer Kalyan Samiti.

In a joint memorandum issued today, the NGOs expressed grave concern over what they termed a “serious collapse of essential health services” at the institution, which caters to patients from six districts of lower Himachal Pradesh. They stated that thousands of patients visited the hospital daily, many of whom from economically weaker sections who could not afford private treatment and relied entirely on government healthcare facilities. The shortage of doctors and para-medical staff had worsened the situation, they said.

KB Ralhan and Subhash Sharma, convener and co convener of People’s Voice NGO, said the college was grappling with severe staff shortage across departments. There was an acute scarcity of specialist and super-specialist doctors, leaving critical departments overstretched and patients unattended for long hours, they said.

The NGOs alleged that the shortage had significantly compromised the quality of care and increased the burden on the limited medical staff currently in service. They demanded the construction of more general and private wards to accommodate the patients.

They further highlighted the state of diagnostic services at the institution. The X-ray plant has reportedly remained non-functional for nearly a year, forcing patients to seek expensive diagnostic tests outside the campus. The radiology department, already understaffed, is struggling to cope with the heavy patient load. As a result, patients are compelled to wait for weeks to undergo crucial tests such as CT scans and MRI, delaying diagnosis and treatment.

The organisations criticised what they described as “administrative apathy and political inaction”. They stated that despite repeated public complaints and growing media reports, the issue had not received the urgent attention that it deserved. “When both political parties and the government fail to act on such a vital public issue, civil society has no option but to raise its voice,” the joint statement read.

The NGOs have demanded immediate recruitment of specialist and super-specialist doctors, para-medical staff, urgent repairs or replacement of essential medical equipment, and strengthening of diagnostic infrastructure. They have also called for a time-bound action plan to restore the institution’s credibility and ensure that patients receive timely and quality healthcare.

Warning that continued neglect on the part of state government could push the institution deeper into crisis, the organisations urged the government to treat the matter as a top priority. They emphasised that healthcare is not merely a service but a fundamental responsibility of the state towards its citizens.