Phagwara Civil Hospital Grapples with Staffing Crisis

Jalandhar: Despite the Punjab Government’s claims of providing high-quality medical infrastructure and free laboratory tests and medicines at Civil Hospitals, the reality at the 140-bedded Civil Hospital in Phagwara tells a different story.

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The hospital, which includes a 30-bed mother-child care center, has been struggling with a severe shortage of medical and para-medical staff for the past two years. It lacks key specialists such as a radiologist, anesthetist, skin specialist, and even a dental surgeon.

According to the news reports, of the 119 sanctioned posts, 61 for medical and para-medical staff remain unfilled. The Civil Hospital, which sees around 450 patients daily, is clearly in need of more staff to manage the workload. Additionally, due to its proximity to National Highway-1, where traffic moves at high speeds throughout the day, the hospital frequently receives accident victims requiring emergency care.

Dr. Parminder Kaur, the Senior Medical Officer (SMO) of Phagwara Civil Hospital, confirmed the dire situation, admitting that the hospital’s blood bank has been non-operational for the last two years. She revealed that out of a total of 24 sanctioned posts of nurses, 12 remain vacant. Additionally, she explained that one staff nurse is assigned to the dialysis unit, and three others are stationed in the emergency wing, leaving only eight staff nurses available for other wards. Furthermore, 14 out of the 31 sanctioned medical officer positions are vacant at the hospital.

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The eye department is currently without a Tonometer, a crucial piece of equipment for measuring eye pressure in glaucoma patients. Despite the eye surgeon's repeated requests, the necessary equipment has yet to be provided by the authorities.

In addition to staffing issues, the hospital also faces serious infrastructural challenges. There are no electricians, washermen, or plumbers on staff, leading to further inconvenience for both patients and hospital staff. Basic services such as a canteen and a cycle stand contractor are also non-existent at the hospital.