Doctor Shortage Hits Healthcare Services in Punjab
Shortage of doctors
Ludhiana: The healthcare system in Punjab is grappling with a severe shortage of doctors, as only 11 out of the 17 doctors recently allotted to the district have joined their duties so far. This gap has resulted in unmet medical needs for the local population.
According to reports, the new batch of doctors has been deployed to various civil hospitals across the district. Five doctors have joined the Ludhiana Civil Hospital, three have been assigned to Jagraon Civil Hospital, two to Samrala Civil Hospital, and one to the Raikot health facility. However, the Khanna Civil Hospital has yet to receive any medical experts. Even with these appointments, many hospitals are still facing vacant positions.
The district's health department has been facing a critical shortage of doctors, with more than 40% of positions remaining unfilled prior to the arrival of the new batch earlier this month. According to some health officials, one of the newly appointed doctors joined but resigned shortly afterwards.
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Dr Akhil Sareen, the state president of the Punjab Civil Medical Service Association (PCMSA), has linked the delay in doctor appointments to the ongoing NEET-PG counselling process. He noted that approximately 30% of doctors across the state are still uncertain about their postings, as they are awaiting the results of the NEET-PG exam before making their career decisions.
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The doctors in Punjab earn less than their counterparts in other states. “The entry level salary for a doctor in Punjab is ₹53,100, which is 21% lower than the Centre’s ₹67,100 and Haryana’s ₹56,100,” he said.
Dr Sareen calculated that over a course of 14 years, this disparity grows to a point where a doctor in the state earns 30% less than their counterparts elsewhere. He said more doctors may resign due to such issues.
