Assn flags acute shortage of staff at ESI dispensaries
The Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS) has raised serious concerns regarding the acute shortage of medical and support staff at Employees State Insurance (ESI) dispensaries in Chandigarh, particularly in Sectors 23 and 29.
In a formal communication addressed to the Secretary of Health, Chandigarh Administration, dated June 11, HMS vice-president Kashmir Chand highlighted the mismanagement and poor service delivery at these government-run facilities, which cater largely to the working and labour classes.
The representation draws attention to the disproportion between the sanctioned strength and the actual working staff at Sector 29 ESI dispensary. As per the data shared, the dispensary is operating with only a fraction of the approved manpower. For instance, only three medical officers are currently working against a sanctioned strength of 13, leaving 10 positions vacant. Despite 19 sanctioned pharmacist positions across facilities, only seven are currently posted. Critical positions like staff nurses and lab technicians comprising four and one sanctioned posts, respectively, are also unfilled.
The undersigned also mentioned that an RTI application seeking complete information on staffing and services submitted on April 21 yielded only partial responses, indicating a lack of transparency in the functioning of these health centres.
According to an internal source, the shortage extends across various other categories which the RTI didn’t reveal. The ward servant (five out of 11 sanctioned) and sweeper (two out of seven) categories are functioning at less than half the required strength, raising serious concerns about the basic hygiene and operational support available at these centres. Similarly, just one clerk is working of the 10 sanctioned and just one auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs) is in place against the requirement of five, leaving four posts vacant.
Other key posts such as peon, maid and gardner have also not been filled. However, the chowkidar category has full deployment with all four sanctioned posts filled. This chronic understaffing is severely impacting healthcare access for the intended beneficiaries.
The letter also points out that no doctor has been deputed at the Sector 23 ESI dispensary, despite repeated complaints from workers about inadequate medical services. Kashmir Chand emphasised that such neglect amounts to a denial of basic healthcare to eligible employees, especially those from the economically weaker sections who rely heavily on government-run facilities for treatment.
Further, the communication suggests that in addition to filling vacant posts in line with the sanctioned strength, there is a pressing need to upgrade the infrastructure of these dispensaries. Recommendations include setting up of a laboratory, increasing the number of medicine disbursal counters and deploying adequate support staff such as sweepers to ensure better hygiene and overall functioning.
Urging immediate intervention, the HMS appealed to the Administration to ensure that the purpose of these ESI dispensaries — to provide essential healthcare to the working class — is fulfilled without further delay.
Chandigarh