How Can Delhi Fix Faculty Shortage in Super-Speciality hospitals? Here's CAG recommendation

New Delhi: The autonomous super speciality hospitals across Delhi are reeling under a shortage of teaching faculties, revealed the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on "Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services".

To deal with the shortage of faculties in autonomous hospitals, the CAG report has recommended that the Government review the recruitment norms to make it more attractive for teaching doctors so that a satisfied and consistent workforce of teaching doctors remains available in such hospitals.

Shortage of teaching doctors in Autonomous Super Specialty Hospitals: 

After examining the availability of teaching doctors in selected autonomous Rajiv Gandhi Super Specialty Hospital (RGSSH), and Janakpuri Super Specialty Hospital (JSSH) of GNCTD, the Audit noted that there was a shortage of teaching doctors in these facilities. 

The CAG report highlighted that as per the MoA between GNTCD and the hospitals concerned, the recruitment for the posts of teaching doctors are made for five years with a performance review after three years and an extension of one year each time on completion of five-year tenure till superannuation on fixed remuneration.

It was observed by the Audit that the remuneration for teaching facilities was fixed by GNTCD in July 2014 i.e. Assistant Professors (Rs 1.25 lakh), Associate Professors (Rs 1.65 lakh), and Professors (Rs 2.00 lakh).

Absence of Promotion and Career Progression Opportunities: 

However, the Audit noted that the aspects of promotions and career progression for a satisfied and consistent workforce had not been included in the MoA. As a result, due to the absence of promotion and career progression opportunities, RGSSH and JSSH failed to attract teaching doctors. 

RGSSH had 14 (2017-18) to 29 (2020-21) teaching doctors (Regular/Contractual) against a sanctioned strength of 85 whereas JSSH had a maximum of eight teaching doctors against a sanctioned strength of 24 (31 March 2021). In the year 2016-17, there was no teaching faculty posted in JSSH. This resulted in a shortage and inconsistency in the availability of Super Specialty Doctors to run super speciality departments like Cardiology, Pulmonology, Gastroenterology, GI surgery, Urology etc., noted the Audit.

Contractual One-year Employment Affecting Healthcare Quality?

It further observed that instead of revising the contractual terms and conditions and enhancing remuneration, RGSSH started recruiting teaching faculty for one year and thereafter, offered a one-year extension. Further, on not receiving sufficient responses even for one year, doctors (teaching faculty, SRs and JRs) were recruited through walk-in interviews for three months and then an extension for another three months was granted.

"The frequent change of doctors besides their shortage affected the functioning of the hospitals compromising the ability of these Hospitals in providing super specialty health care facilities to the patients," observed the Audit.

Recommendations: 

Accordingly, the Audit recommended the Government fill up the vacancies against the sanctioned posts to improve the functioning of public health facilities of GNCTD.

"In view of shortage of teaching doctors in its autonomous hospitals, Government may review the recruitment norms to make it more attractive for teaching doctors so that a satisfied and consistent workforce of teaching doctors is available in these hospitals," it also recommended.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the audit report on the Delhi Government's "Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services", prepared by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India, revealed shocking gaps in Delhi's healthcare facilities.

The deficiencies that were highlighted in the CAG report include shocking deficiencies in Mohalla Clinics, deficiencies in AYUSH dispensaries, hospitals lacking critical services, shortage of healthcare workers etc.

Also Read: Delhi Healthcare- Here are 7 shortcomings listed by CAG report