Acute crisis of qualified doctors: Medical treatment to patients compromised

Delhi is known as the hub of medical facilities in India, but since long, acute shortage of qualified doctors has made the situation very grim and is a matter of concern.

After the visit of Delhi Lieutenant-Governor Najeev Jung in several hospitals like Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital, GB Pant, Rajiv Gandhi Super Speciality Hospital and Institute of Liver and Biliary Hospitals, there are reports that as many as 1,000 vacancies have emerged which have put the city administration in a spot. 

There are as many as 41 hospitals, including homeopathy and ayurvedic hospitals. ‘Due to this the medical treatment provided to the patients are being compromised in one way or the other,’ state health secretary. Delhi government hospitals have 1,873 sanction posts including specialist doctors. Only 873 doctors are working including 474 doctors who are on a contractual basis. 

The officer also said that this directly impacts the quality of treatment meted out to patients and also forces many people to shift to other hospitals.

In July last year, the city administration had informed Union Public Service Commission about the crisis and asked them to recruit 1000 doctors, including specialists of various ailments and departments, on an urgent basis. In fact, Lieutenant Government spoke to the chairman of UPSC, demanding to know as to why the process of hiring doctors has not been completed so far. 

There is a huge inflow of patients from neighbouring states like Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir and the number of doctors is inadequate. As many as 7,000 patients visit Guru Teg Bahadur and Lok Nayak hospitals and there shortage of as many as 400 doctors. ‘The influx ensures that the number of doctors in the capital is inadequate as they have little time to serve the medical needs of their patients.’ 

In the meantime, the Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung has issued instructions for converting Lok Nayak and Guru Teg Bahadur hospitals into model hospitals, passing orders to uplift infrastructure and sanitation facilities, as well as expediting ongoing projects at both the Centre and state.