44% posts of doctor vacant in Civil Hospital
The largest Civil Hospital in the state is grappling with an acute shortage of staff, severely hampering its smooth functioning. The staff crisis at the 500-bedded Civil Hospital in Jalandhar is posing a serious challenge to the government health infrastructure of the district.
Catering to a footfall of 1,200 to 1,500 patients per month — and sometimes more — the hospital is one of the most visited civil hospitals in Punjab, serving not just the city but also numerous patients from rural and peripheral areas.
The most critical shortage is in the nursing and medical officer (MO) categories, including specialists for surgeries and other departments. Of the 154 sanctioned posts of MO in the hospital, only 85 are filled, while 68 (44%) posts lie vacant . In addition, 17 more MO posts are required as per the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms, bringing the total sanctioned posts to 171.
The situation is even graver in the nursing section. While the hospital operates with 83 nurses, it ideally needs between 400 and 500 to function smoothly. Of the 210 sanctioned nursing posts, including nursing sisters, staff nurses and nursing superintendents, only 83 are filled, leaving 127 vacant. Furthermore, according to the IPHS norms (2022), an additional 200 posts should be sanctioned, raising the total strength of 410 nurses.
Although the hospital is functioning with 586, it lacks the staff to serve patients adequately. Several wards remain non-functional due to the shortage. The previously active TB ward, ENT ward, orthopaedic ward and the new burn unit/ICU above the trauma ward are non-operational due to lack of staff.
The shortage of the paramedical staff, including ward attendants and safai sewaks, has left several wards in disarray.
A senior doctor at the hospital said, “Over 30 passouts from the DNB programme indicate our need for specialists. Although we have competent doctors, the inefficiency in services can only be resolved once the staffing needs are met." Currently, we are heavily understaffed.”
Medical Superintendent Dr Rajkumar stated, “We keep sending staffing demands to the state government. Our DNB programme is helping us meet the requirement for doctors to some extent. The government is also in the process of recruiting and conducting interviews for staff nurses, specialists and MOs. However, the most serious shortage right now is of nursing and paramedical staff. We also need super-specialist doctors in cardiology, neurology, urology, etc. The requirementement request has been sent several times. In addition, ICU technicians are also urgently required,” he added.
Jalandhar