Staff shortage plagues Phagwara ESI Hospital

After highlighting the staff shortage at the Civil Hospital in Phagwara, attention now turns to the Employees State Insurance (ESI) Hospital. The hospital, which caters to hundreds of labourers working, is grappling with a severe staff shortage.

A visit to the ESI Hospital by The Tribune correspondent revealed the extent of the problem, with the shortage causing inconvenience to patients.

Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Meenu Bedi Tandon said 14 out of 19 nurse positions are vacant, while three out of nine medical officer posts have remained unfilled for months.

Despite five clerk positions being sanctioned, only one clerk is working, with four posts still vacant. Furthermore, 29 out of 41 Class IV posts are unoccupied and the hospital is also missing two cooks and a ‘Safai Sewak’. Only one lab technician is currently working, with another post vacant.

Dr Meenu noted, of the 78 sanctioned posts at the ESI Hospital, 53 remain unfilled.