With 383 vacant nursing posts, GMCH Chandigarh begins recruitment drive

The persistent understaffing has impacted the quality of services provided, with the nursing union repeatedly voicing concerns about the increased workload and declining standards of patient care, reports the Daily. Recognising the gravity of the situation, GMCH administration is also preparing proposals to recruit for other vacant posts in the coming months in an effort to reinforce the hospital’s nursing services.

The report further highlights critical gaps in key roles. The position of nursing superintendent is currently vacant, and one out of nine assistant nursing superintendent posts remains unfilled. While all 61 senior nursing officer posts are occupied, a severe shortfall exists in the staff nurse/nursing officer category, where 381 out of 1,090 sanctioned posts are lying vacant. Presently, the hospital operates with 709 nursing personnel, comprising 660 regular staff, 22 daily contract workers, and 27 outsourced employees.

As the core of hospital operations, the nursing cadre plays a vital role in patient recovery and support, underscoring the need for adequate staffing. After years of stagnation, GMCH has made efforts not only to fill current vacancies but also to create new positions. This initiative recently received approval from the Central Government, offering significant relief to the hospital. The trauma and emergency block, which deals with the most critical medical cases, has been allocated the highest number of new posts, 45 of which have received final approval, covering both junior and senior nursing roles.

In a parallel development, the number of BSc Nursing seats at GMCH has increased from 35 to 60, thanks to the introduction of new postgraduate (PG) and Doctor of Medicine (DM) courses. The Indian Nursing Council has granted permission for this expansion, providing enhanced educational opportunities for students in Chandigarh and surrounding areas. Currently, GMCH and PGIMER are the only institutions in the city offering BSc Nursing courses. PGIMER offers 90 seats for BSc, 60 for basic nursing, and 31 for MSc Nursing.