Hospital Overwhelmed: Staff Shortage Hits Patient Care

A civil hospital is facing a critical staff shortage, impacting both medical professionals and patient care. The facility has nearly tripled its capacity to approximately 300 beds, with further expansions, including a Mother and Child Care unit and a Critical Care Block, set to bring the total close to 500 beds. However, the manpower allotment has not kept pace with this growth, remaining based on an outdated 100-bed structure.

This disproportionate staffing level places immense pressure on the existing workforce. Several key departments, including medicine, dermatology, cardiology, and ophthalmology, are operating without regular specialists. The hospital relies heavily on deputation and contractual workers to manage the daily influx of hundreds of patients in emergency and outpatient departments.

Doctors highlight that nursing staff levels are critically low, with only three nursing sisters available for a 300-bed facility, against the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norm of six. Future expansions, particularly the 75-bed Critical Care Block, will drastically increase manpower needs, yet only 49 staff nurse posts are sanctioned, with 47 currently functional.

Beyond clinical staff, other essential services are also severely understaffed. There are no regular electricians, and Class-IV and sanitation support are critically low, with only 11 ward attendants available against 54 sanctioned posts. Biomedical waste management and pharmacy services are also strained, with vacant posts for a chief pharmacy officer and a lack of oxygen plant operators and a fire safety officer. Senior officials acknowledge the pressure and state that higher authorities have been informed of the requirements.