60 of 119 posts of medical, paramedical staff lying vacant at Phagwara Civil Hospital
Despite the Punjab Government's tall claims about best infrastructure at Civil Hospitals and free lab tests and medicines to patients, the 140-bed local Civil Hospital, including 30-bed Mother-Child Care Centre, has been grappling with a shortage of doctors and medical equipment for the past several months.
A visit to the hospital revealed that the hospital was facing acute shortage of medical, paramedical and nursing staff. When contacted, the Senior Medical Officer (SMO), Dr Lehimber Ram, said of 24 sanctioned posts of nurse, 10 were vacant and two nurses were absent.
The SMO said one nurse was deputed in the dialysis ward, three in the emergency wing, and so, only eight nurses were available for the remaining wards. This was coming in the way of the smooth functioning of the hospital.
Around 450 patients were examined and treated daily at the hospital, the SMO said, adding that he had written to the authorities to fill the posts as soon as possible.
He also admitted that 15 posts of medical officer were lying vacant against 31 posts sanctioned for the hospital.
Sixty posts of a total of 119 medical and paramedical staff are lying vacant.
He said he had been repeatedly writing to the higher authorities to fill the posts of doctor, nurse and paramedical staff for the efficient functioning of the hospital, situated along the national highway.
The Eye Department has no Tonometer to check eye pressure of glaucoma patients. The eye surgeon posted there said she had already submitted the requirements before competent the authorities.
