PIL seeks filling of vacant posts of doctors at Malerkotla Civil Hospital

Reacting to a large number of vacancies in the cadre of doctors at Malerkotla Civil Hospital through a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by local social activist and advocate Bhishamber Kinger, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has directed the counsel for the state of Punjab to seek instructions and file an affidavit in this regard.

The PIL is listed on December 12. Kinger had sought the intervention of the high court for the issuance of an appropriate writ for issuing directions to respondents — state of Punjab through its Chief Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Malerkotla Chief Medical Officer and Malerkotla Civil Hospital SMO, to immediately fill vacant posts of doctors at the hospital.

The petitioner alleged that the Civil Hospital had failed to meet growing demand of healthcare services and had been unable to provide timely medical treatment, especially during emergencies due to lack of doctors and inadequate medical infrastructure. The situation had led to frequent referrals of patients to distant hospitals, causing delays in treatment and further hardships for the citizens, stated the appellant.

The appellant substantiated his claim with copies of information regarding number of vacancies procured under Right to Information Act and visuals regarding unavailability of doctors at the hospital.

Perusal of records revealed that posts of gynaecologist, BTO (Blood Transfusion Officer), Radiologist and 10 EMOs (Emergency Medical Officers) were vacant for over two years.

The Tribune has been highlighting issues related to the failure of successive governments to provide adequate healthcare facilities at the district-level civil hospital and other government healthcare centres at localities situated under Malerkotla, Amargarh and Ahmedgarh subdivisions.

Severe shortage of medical officers, including specialists and support staff, and insufficiency of funds for meeting routine expenses were cited as major factors behind poor state of affairs despite the fact that authorities claimed to put in the best efforts to put in their maximum.

Rationalisations of existing posts and bringing an end to a four-year hiatus in regular hiring of doctors were suggested as a minimum agenda to bridge the wide gap between sanctioned and filled posts of physicians and paramedical staff.

The appellant, a social activist and an advocate, has now sought the intervention of the high court in the matter, initially for getting vacant posts of doctors filled at the Malerkotla Civil Hospital. Residents see a ray of hope in the resolution of long-pending issues related to healthcare.