Doctor shortage ails healthcare in Muktsar

Muktsar district is functioning barely with a quarter of its sanctioned posts of doctors. Of the 236 doctors meant to serve the district’s population of more than 10 lakh, only 69 posts are filled.

The situation is even worse in villages. Here, just 17 doctors serve against 99 sanctioned posts, leaving 82 positions vacant at six community health centres (CHCs) and 20 primary health centres (PHCs). At Alamwala CHC, a senior medical officer and a doctor on deputation offer the services, against the sanctioned strength of seven doctors.

At the Muktsar Civil Hospital, 34 out of 57 sanctioned posts of doctors are lying vacant. Of 40 posts each in Malout and Gidderbaha, 24 and 27 positions are lying vacant.

Even the Aam Aadmi Clinics, recently rechristened as Ayushman Arogya Kendras, have not found takers. Three of these 24 mohalla clinics operate without a single doctor.

Gurjant Singh, 69, a resident of Goneana, said, “A doctor or any other educated professional always chooses a place where facilities are better. Here residents in most parts of the district still don’t get potable water supply. The government should think about developing this area. Only then the doctors will be willing to serve in the district.”

Notably, the state government tried to bridge the gap earlier this year. In March, 12 MD/MS graduates were posted to Muktsar district – nine to the Civil Hospital in Muktsar and three to Gidderbaha. But only two showed up. The rest stayed away, despite having signed indemnity bonds worth Rs 10 to Rs 15 lakh, committing them to serve in government hospitals for one to two years.

A retired doctor, who spent three decades in the Health Department, said, “Our area is labelled as backward. Low salary, bureaucratic hurdles and constant pressure also contribute to the reluctance. I have heard that some doctors even paid the bond amount just to avoid serving here.”

For people like Jagjit Singh, the system’s failure is personal. His elderly father had to be rushed to the Government Medical College and Hospital at Faridkot. “There was no specialist for dengue treatment here last year. The hospitals in Muktsar have become referral centres,” he said.

In 2016, during the SAD-BJP government, then Health Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani candidly admitted that no government doctor was willing to serve in Muktsar.

Punjab