Ludhiana Hospitals Face Doctor Crisis: 18 Specialist Posts Vacant

Ludhiana is experiencing a severe deficit in medical specialists, with a critical 18 out of 22 sanctioned medicine specialist positions lying vacant. This acute shortage significantly compromises patient care across the district's health facilities. The civil hospital, bearing the heaviest patient load, is particularly affected by the absence of these crucial medical experts.

The district's healthcare infrastructure, comprising numerous health centres and hospitals, relies heavily on specialists. However, with a substantial number of positions unfilled, the civil hospital's medicine outpatient department continues to manage a high volume of 200-250 patients daily, often without permanent specialist coverage.

Overall, the district faces a broad challenge, with over 44% of all doctor positions vacant. To address this, the health department is pursuing multiple avenues, including deputation and urgent recruitment through walk-in interviews, while also expressing hope for recent postgraduate students to be posted to the area.