EPS criticizes Tamil Nadu Govt over vacant posts in Government Hospitals

Chennai: In a recent statement, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), the Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, strongly criticized the state government for its failure to address the numerous vacancies in government hospitals.

EPS has highlighted that numerous critical positions across government hospitals in Tamil Nadu remain unfilled. This includes vacancies for deans at government medical colleges, as well as positions for doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff in the public health sector.

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This shortage of staff is reportedly leading to a decrease in the quality of patient care, longer wait times, and an increased burden on existing personnel.

According to reports by Dt Next, it was highlighted by Palaniswami that the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had raised several questions with the DMK government regarding the operation of government medical colleges that lack regular deans. The court questioned why new medical colleges are being opened when the government has yet to address the vacancies for deans at existing institutions.

“I have already raised the issue that several posts of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff have been lying vacant and I asked the government to fill he posts with doctors, who worked in the government sector during the COVID pandemic,'' he added.

EPS also highlighted a news report regarding the stagnation of sewage near the cardiology and neurology departments at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. He stated, “This situation poses a serious health hazard for patients.”

Palaniswami, quoting the news report, said that apart from this, the authorities had failed to maintain the latrines properly in the hospital, rendering them unusable for the past week. He questioned whether the government was addressing the needs of people seeking medical care or turning the hospitals into a breeding ground for diseases.

EPS's criticism highlights a critical issue within Tamil Nadu’s healthcare system. Despite some efforts by the state government to address these concerns, persistent vacancies continue to significantly impact healthcare services. This situation demands a concerted effort from all stakeholders to resolve the staffing crisis and improve the effectiveness of the healthcare system in Tamil Nadu.

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