Medicine specialist yet to join Civil Hospital

The Civil Hospital, Ludhiana, has been eagerly awaiting for the medicine specialist but the wait seems to be getting longer. Even after thirteen days of the allotment of the station, the doctor has not joined the duty so far.

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With no medicine specialist in the hospital, the OPD is currently being run with the help of two doctors who visit it on days assigned to them.

The state government last month allotted stations/postings to 255 doctors as part of the bonded government service across various public healthcare institutions of the state, post-completion of their PG courses. Of the 255 doctors, the district got 13, of which one was allotted to the Civil Hospital.

In Punjab, MD/MS graduates are required to sign an indemnity bond, committing to serve the state government for a period of two years after completing their postgraduate courses, with a bond amount of Rs 15 lakh. Failure to serve the government for the stipulated period will result in the recovery of the bond amount.

“The doctor allotted the station has not joined the duty. The Civil Hospital is facing a tough situation amid the post of Medicine Specialist lying vacant. The post had fallen vacant last month after the lone specialist, Dr Amanpreet Kaur, was promoted as Health and Family Welfare Officer,” said Dr Harpreet Singh, Senior Medical Officer, Civil Hospital.

Sushma, a patient at the OPD, said “Two days ago, I was unable to meet the doctor as there was a huge rush and my turn was late. I could not stay away from home for long, hence, I returned the next day,” she said outside the Medicine OPD.

Echoing similar views, another patient said the doctor he used to consult is not available now. “I am waiting for the past two hours and still not able to meet the doctor. There is a massive rush of patients at the hospital and it needs more doctors.

A huge rush is witnessed at the OPD of the hospital and the daily footfall at the OPD is around 1,000-1,500 patients. The hospital was expecting more doctors but even the one allotted has failed to turn up yet.