Shortage of doctors, paramedics ails healthcare in Panipat
The tall claims of the state government of providing quality health services to residents notwithstanding, there is an acute shortage of doctors and paramedics in the district.
The 200-bed Bhimsen Sachar Civil Hospital, which caters to a population of 14 lakh at the district headquarters, has 24 doctors against the sanctioned strength of 55.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had inaugurated the new building of the hospital on Haryana Day in 2019, and it was upgraded to 200 beds from 100 beds. However, patients have to face a lot of problems in the absence of doctors and technical staff.
As per information, the post of Principal Medical Officer (PMO) has been lying vacant for the past many months. A total of 28 doctors are posted in the hospital, including 24 medical officers, two senior medical officers (SMOs) and two deputy medical superintendents (DMS). Three dental surgeons are working at the hospital.
About 1,500 to 2,000 patients visited the Civil Hospital daily, while 25 to 30 deliveries are done daily. As many as 70-80 patients are admitted to the hospital every day, sources said.
Similarly in Samalkha, the 50-bed Civil Hospital is also facing an acute shortage of doctors. The hospital has a sanctioned strength of 11 doctors, but only five are posted there and there is no specialist.
In November 2023, former CM Manohar Lal Khattar had made an announcement to upgrade the Civil Hospital to 100 beds.
As per data of the Health Department in the district, six posts of deputy civil surgeon is lying vacant against the sanctioned strength of nine; nine SMOs are posted against the sanctioned strength of 16; 97 medical officers are working against the strength of 147; 11 posts of lab technician against the sanctioned strength of 46; 19 pharmacists working against the sanctioned posts of 41; and 10 radiographers are working against 15 sanctioned posts. There is no dental assistant-cum-mechanic in the district.
The government had also announced plans to provide better health facilities like MRI, Cath Lab, CT scan, haemodialysis and blood bank to patients. The CT scan and haemodialysis facility is being run on PPP mode.
The blood bank was started in May — after five years of the announcement — the sources stated.
Dr Jayant Ahuja, Civil Surgeon, said, "We have been asking the government for more doctors on a regular basis. The recruitment process of 766 doctors is under way at the government level."
