Amid 60% staff shortage, SKIMS grapples with massive patient load

Srinagar, Dec 1: The Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, Kashmir’s premier tertiary healthcare institute, is grappling with a staggering patient load.

Between October 2023 and September 2024, the institute provided treatment to an astonishing 1.3 lakh (1,337,844) individuals. These numbers not only underscore the institute's pivotal role in the region's healthcare system but also highlight the urgent need to ensure it is fully equipped with adequate staff and other critical resources to sustain its vital operations.

The Annual Report 2024 of SKIMS has revealed that in the year gone by, ending September 2024, 3.64 lakh new patients sought treatment at SKIMS OPD. In addition, another 5 lakh patients visited for follow-ups. In the Accidents and Emergency section of the hospital, 2.8 lakh people arrived to get specialized care that SKIMS Soura promises. The State Cancer institute (SCI) of SKIMS had over 86000 patients getting evaluated and treated for cancers.

The Institute admitted 94687 patients in a year, the average duration of stay being 4 days. Of these, 54049 were routine admissions and 3185 admissions were made in SCI. 1190 Road Traffic Accidents were also managed at SKIMS.

The sheer magnitude of the patient load in every department of SKIMS underscores the need of well staffed and well stocked institute. However, that is not what SKIMS has remained over the years

The 1050- bedded institute recently acknowledged a 60% shortfall in staff, a problem exacerbated by retirements and delays in filling vacancies. This shortage spans across all departments but is most acutely felt among nurses, technicians and paramedics. At times, a single nurse is responsible for managing the needs of an entire ward, a scenario that starkly contrasts with globally accepted norms. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the recommended nurse-to-patient ratio is 1:5 in general wards and significantly lower in intensive care units. The current situation at SKIMS, however, falls dangerously short of these standards.

As per a senior doctor at SKIMS, often, one nurse caters to an entire ward of 30 patients.

For patients, this shortage translates into delayed attention, overburdened staff, and compromised quality of care. Nurses, often the backbone of hospital services, find themselves juggling administrative tasks, patient monitoring, and emergency care simultaneously. “This multitasking not only affects the mental and physical well-being of the staff but also increases the risk of errors—errors that could have life-threatening consequences,” said a professor working at the Institute.

“I’ve worked here for over a decade, and I’ve never seen things this bad,” shares a senior nurse who wishes to remain anonymous. “We want to provide the best care, but with one nurse handling 30 to 40 patients at times, it’s impossible.”

The repercussions of this staff shortage ripple across the healthcare spectrum. Critical care units, which require constant monitoring and swift interventions, face delays. Procedures and investigations are dated months ahead, some patients facing hazardous consequences due to this delay. Outpatient services see extended waiting times, and routine procedures are often deferred. “In such an environment, both patients and caregivers lose confidence in the system, said another SKIMS employee who recently retired from the Institute.

Over the years, SKIMS has sought attention to its staff requirements at every for a, as reported by many sections of media. Administration of the Institute have expressed the need to expedite the hiring process to fill vacant positions, prioritising critical roles such as nurses and paramedical staff.

Director SKIMS Soura, Prof Ashraf Ganaie said the Institute was in the process of filling vacant posts. “We have referred the posts and various Government departments are already at it,” he said while refusing to divulge further details. “Things will be better soon,” he said.