Punjab: 50 posts lying vacant at Phagwara Civil hospital, doctor raises concern with CM Bhagwant Mann

Phagwara: Bringing Chief Minister Bhagwat Mann's attention to the long ongoing problem of shortage of doctors and staff at the Phagwara Civil Hospital, the Senior Medical Officer raised his concerns with the CM during the latter's visit to inaugurate a new Mother-Child Care Health Centre at the hospital on Tuesday. 

The Senior Medical Officer (SMO) Dr Kamal Kishore brought out his concerns regarding the staff crunch at the hospital with the CM since the hospital has been reportedly suffering from a shortage of doctors for the last couple of months. 

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The hospital is in need of a chest specialist, a cardiologist, an oncologist, a nephrologist, a medical specialist, a urologist or a skin specialist. 

Talking about the shortage of staff in the hospital, the SMO said, "Out of 119 sanctioned posts in the civil hospital 50 posts have been lying vacant. Out of the 36 sanctioned posts of doctors, 14 posts are still vacant. Out of 73 sanctioned posts of staff, 36 posts are yet to be filled." He added that the hospital is in need of two staff nurses, one pharmacist and a chief pharmacist, which have been lying vacant for some time now. 

The CM, as per a media report in the Tribune India, assured the SMO that he would resolve the issue regarding the shortage of staff at the hospital. 

Meanwhile, the SMO observed that every month, around 6,000 patients are examined and treated in the hospital, adding that they have installed an ultramodern elevator worth Rs 21 lakh for the convenience of pregnant women, new mothers and senior citizens. The CM inspected the operation theatre, immunisation ward, and outpatient department (OPD) facilities of the hospital during his visit. 

With an aim to improve the government healthcare infrastructure across Punjab, CM Mann announced that they would construct 16 new medical colleges in the coming five years, adding that a massive recruitment drive has been launched to fill all the vacant lying government posts in the health department. 

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