Ludhiana Civil Hospital reeling under shortage of specialist doctors

The 300-bed Civil Hospital, which is already overburdened with patient load, is grappling with shortage of specialist doctors as well. With an average footfall of 300 patients in the OPD, the hospital requires more staff than its present strength. Along with the OPD, doctors are also taking care of admitted patients, conducting post-mortem examinations, performing medical board tasks and attending VVIP duties, besides doing other works.

For the past two months, the Civil Hospital is working without a forensic expert which, in turn, is giving a tough time to the hospital administration. Daily between 7-10 cases arrive for autopsy and at present, it is taking one day’s time to prepare the final report.

Managing multiple tasks

Along with OPD, doctors at the Civil Hospital are also taking care of admitted patients, conducting autopsies, performing medical board tasks and attending VVIP duties, besides doing other works.

The forensic expert from Khanna is called here to conduct post-mortem examinations in some cases, along with him all specialists from the hospital, including surgery, ortho, ENT, skin, eye and microbiology, have been conducting post-mortem duties and many times, at the cost of their own work.

A specialist from the hospital said he had to leave his OPD work to conduct the autopsies. “A forensic expert should be posted here at the earliest as it is taking a toll on our work,” he said.

A medicine specialist is the backbone of any hospital and shockingly, at present it has one medicine specialist, who is on leave and currently, two doctors are deputed here.

There is only one radiologist who is taking care of ultrasound cases, CT/MRI scans, medico-legal cases, bone ossification test, X-ray reporting of medico-legal cases and attending court hearings as well. Around 900 ultrasounds, 100 CT scans (medico-legal) and 25 age-estimation tests were done at the hospital every month. Along with such cases from the city, those from rural areas, including Sahnewal, Raikot, Sidhwan Bet, Maloud, Payal, Dehlon, Hatur, Jagraon and Khanna, are referred to the district hospital. The heavy footfall every day has resulted in waiting period for the OPD patients.

Next, for the past one year, the lone surgeon is handling the surgery cases in the hospital. After one surgeon resigned, no replacement was given, which made things difficult for both patients and the doctor. Every month, 20-25 surgeries are being conducted at the hospital but many times, these have to be postponed due to some other important works.

In the Skin and ENT departments also, there is only one specialist each. Whenever the doctor is on another duty or

on leave, patients have to bear the brunt.

Senior Medical Officer, Dr Harpreet Singh said the hospital had shortage of specialist staff and they have written to the higher authorities number of times.