50% posts of staff vacant in Phagwara Civil Hospital
Though the government is repeatedly claiming the best infrastructure in civil hospitals and lab tests and medicines free of cost to patients, the 140-bedded Civil Hospital, Phagwara, including 30 bedded Mother-Child Care Centre, has been grappling with a shortage of doctors and medical equipment for the past several months.
During a round of the Civil Hospital by the correspondent, it was found that the hospital was facing the acute shortage of medical, paramedical and nursing staff. In all, 60 posts are lying vacant of the total 119 medical and paramedical staff in the hospital.
Senior Medical Officer Dr Lehimber Ram said of the total 24 sanctioned posts of nurse, 10 posts are lying vacant, two nurses were on long leave.
He said one staff nurse was deputed in a dialysis unit ward, three nurses are deputed in emergency wing, so only eight staff nurses are available in different wards. The SMO said it was difficult for smooth functioning in the hospital. He has written to the higher authorities to fill the posts of nurses as soon as possible.
The SMO also admitted that 15 posts of medical officer are also lying vacant whereas 31 posts of medical officer are sanctioned for the Civil Hospital. He said of the remaining 16 MOs, five are on leave. He said it was learnt that three more medical officers are going to leave the job, so it’s difficult to run the hospital.
Even the eye department of the hospital has no “tonometer” to check the eye pressure of glaucoma patients. Eye surgeon said she had already submitted the requirements before the authorities.
The SMO said around 450 patients are being examined and treated daily in the Civil Hospital.
