Civil hosp struggles with low doctors’ count

Ludhiana: Even as the AAP government has opened aam aadmi clinics to give thrust to healthcare, the biggest government hospital in Ludhiana — the civil hospital — is struggling with shortage of staff.
Health officials said they are facing challenge in running the emergency unit in the civil hospital due to acute shortage of emergency medical officers (EMOs).
A doctor said out of 15 posts of EMOs (who are MBBS doctors), only four are posted in the emergency unit.
“Because of shortage of EMOs, the director health services had asked the management to post specialists in the emergency unit. But of the seven specialists, three are absent whereas four are doing work of their speciality, and not emergency duties. Even they are not following the order of DHS, so the senior medical officer (SMO) has written about them to the senior health authorities,” said reliable sources at the civil hospital. “It is very difficult to run emergency services at the hospital with just four EMOs as there are around 100 emergency OPDs in a day at the hospital which is the biggest government medical institution in the district.” Sources said one each EMO is to be posted in morning, evening and night whereas one EMO has to get rest as well after the night shift.
The health officials said besides the EMOs, the hospital faces shortage of specialists as well. They said out of the three posts of medical specialists, two are vacant. And one medical specialist has been posted on deputation who comes during the day.
A specialist requesting anonymity said on an average there are 1,200 patients who come to general OPD, and the shortage of specialists affect the work. He said on an average, each specialist has to attend to 120-150 patients, which is significantly high.
“Of the three posts of surgeons, one is vacant. Post of eye surgeon is also lying vacant. Out of five posts of paediatricians at the mother and child hospital, two posts are vacant,” sources said.
Officials at the hospital said there is a slight shortage of staff nurses too. Against 49 posts for 100-bedded hospital, there are 46 nurses. But as the hospital was upgraded to 300-bedded unit, there should be at least 135 nurses according to the health management system. “It is impossible to run a 300-bedded hospital with 46 staff nurses. And some nurses (22) were hired from user charges. There is also a shortage of ward attendants at the hospital,” said a doctor at the hospital.
Senior medical officer (SMO), civil hospital, Dr Amarjeet Kaur suggested that they have written to the higher authorities about the shortage of staff at the hospital.
Meanwhile, residents wanted the government to deploy adequate staff at the civil hospital. “This is very important as not all people can afford treatment at private hospitals and a large number of people especially the poor come to the civil hospital for treatment,” said Keemti Rawal, a social activist. A patient from Chandigarh road asking not to be named said the waiting time at the hospital is long.