Ahmedabad Hospitals face shortage of doctors, nurses amid expansion

Ahmedabad: What started as a crisis in 2020 has now led to a remarkable expansion in medical infrastructure, with the city boasting over 1,500 major and minor hospitals and nursing homes—a significant 10% increase since 2021.   

Amid the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ahmedabad’s healthcare landscape has undergone a notable transformation over the past four years. However, this surge in healthcare facilities has come with its own set of challenges, particularly in the recruitment of qualified nurses and MBBS doctors to meet the growing demand.  

Usually, Kerala serves as a key source of deploying nursing talent for the sector. However, factors such as rising minimum wages in southern states and heightened demand overseas have led to a shortage of nurses in the region. To address this gap, institutions like Apollo Hospitals have introduced innovative schemes aimed at attracting and retaining nursing talent. Neeraj Lal, COO of Apollo Hospitals in Ahmedabad, highlights the hospital's initiative, wherein nurses undergo specialized training abroad in countries like the UAE and the UK before returning to their roles with enhanced skills and incentives, reports The Times of India. 

Similarly, Babu Thomas, CHRO of Shalby Hospitals, acknowledges the rise in nursing colleges in Gujarat but emphasizes that the sector is still in its developmental stages. “We have begun training nursing and paramedical staff to meet the growing demand,” Thomas says, adding, “A similar shortage is observed in MBBS doctors, with many joining hospitals while simultaneously preparing for higher studies.”  

As Ahmedabad grapples with these healthcare workforce challenges, the upcoming World Health Day on April 7 takes on added significance. According to The Daily, this year's theme, 'My Health, My Right,' underscores the importance of healthcare accessibility and awareness, particularly in the context of the ongoing pandemic. Dr Tushar Patel, president of Ahmedabad Medical Association (AMA) told The Daily, "The pandemic cast a long shadow on healthcare in terms of how critical care and disciplines such as pulmonology and cardiology are seen, how medical infrastructure is assessed, and general awareness about health issues." 

Dr Bharat Gadhvi, regional head of HCG Hospitals and president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), reflects on the city's healthcare growth, noting the addition of approximately 140 hospitals since 2020-21, along with expanded infrastructure in beds and ICU facilities. “For the same, trained human resources is a must. We are attempting to address this need as an association and through representations to state govt,” he says, adding: “The Covid period caused us to increase the number of ICU beds in all hospitals, and it remains in use today.” 

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