Half of nurses post vacant at Civil Hospital, doctors performing nurses job: HP High Court directs action

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the state government to urgently address the critical shortage of healthcare staff at the Civil Hospital in Rohru. Currently, out of the 31 nurse positions sanctioned, 17 lie vacant, exacerbating the strain on the healthcare system in the region.

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Similarly, of the nine pharmacist positions, only three have been filled, further hampering the hospital's ability to provide essential medical services. Expressing concern over the alarming staff shortage, the High Court has demanded that the state government should submit a detailed status report outlining the specific timeline for filling these vacancies. 

The directive was issued by the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao and Justice Jyotsna Rewal Dua, in response to a public interest litigation initiated suo moto by the court. The court's decision was prompted by a news highlighting the acute shortage of paramedical staff in the Civil Hospital, Rohru. Many people depend on the hospital for their treatment and about 400 to 500 patients visit the hospital on a daily basis, but due to the unavailability of sufficient paramedical staff members, patients are forced to travel around to receive care, reports a daily. 

The shortage of staff has reached a critical point, with doctors having to step in to perform the duties of unavailable paramedical staff members. This situation not only burdens the already stretched medical professionals but also compromises the quality of patient care. During the hearing, it was also revealed that some nurses, who were engaged during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, are now at risk of losing their jobs. If their services are discontinued, the hospital's operations would face further disruption, intensifying the strain on the existing workforce, reports The Tribune.

The local residents and patients' families living in the vicinity of the hospital have reached out to their local MLA, expressing their concerns about the dire situation. Despite their pleas, the Health Department has taken no action to fill the vacant posts, leaving the paramedical staff under immense pressure and patients facing difficulties in accessing essential treatment in a 100-bed hospital. The court has listed the case for further hearing on November 16, underscoring the urgency of the matter and the need for swift action to alleviate the crisis at Civil Hospital, Rohru.