Specialist shortage cripples J&K rural hospitals

Srinagar, Nov 1: A recent report by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has revealed serious shortcomings in healthcare delivery across rural and peripheral hospitals in J&K.

With nearly half of the 220 sanctioned specialist positions remaining vacant, patient care in rural areas has significantly deteriorated, forcing rural masses to seek treatment in overburdened tertiary care hospitals.

The Health Dynamics of India report (2022-23) released last month by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare highlighted various aspects of healthcare delivery, infrastructure, and human resource availability in sub-centres, Primary Health Centers, and Community Health Centers of states and Union territories of the country under the National Health Mission.

The annual report was earlier known as Rural Health Statistics.

In J&K, the dire shortage of specialists is the most striking finding, exposing the cracks in the system that need to be addressed on a fast-track basis.

While the total number of specialists in CHCs of J&K was 127 in March 2022, the number fell to 116 in March 2023, the cap date for the data of compilation.

The total number of sanctioned positions of specialists in J&K CHCs is 220 of which 104 are yet to be filled.

Many positions have fallen vacant following the retirement of medical personnel.

There are 52 CHCs in J&K, providing cover to 890 PHCs.

Patients are often forced to seek treatment at higher levels of healthcare facilities, putting extra burden on the resources.

A senior medico said that often patients are dated months ahead for surgeries, which pushes them either to seek treatment at a private facility or end up worsening their conditions.

The report states that 25 positions of the 52 sanctioned for hiring surgeons are vacant.

Similarly, 25 positions of the 52 sanctioned for anaesthesia specialists are vacant.

The shortage of anaesthesia and surgery specialists becomes more detrimental to the goal of operationalising round-the-clock emergencies in hospitals.

Maternity services have also taken a hit in peripheries with 22 of the 52 positions vacant.

Rural hospitals often are unable to keep round-the-clock maternity services available forcing women to seek care at tertiary care maternity hospitals.

For years, this has been underlined as the leading cause of overcrowding and poor services for women in maternity hospitals.

The crisis is exacerbated by the shortage of anaesthesia staff and nursing staff.

Even for children, the shortage of paediatricians is a serious compromise for rural healthcare delivery.

Of the 52 sanctioned positions of paediatric specialists, 26 are vacant.

Paediatric patients are often treated by non-specialists as a result, or the families are forced to travel to cities or to private practitioners for specialized treatment and advice.

At the lower level as well, there is a dire staff shortage.

A total of 647 of the 1677 posts of medical officers are vacant in J&K.

The impact of this is not difficult to gauge, as patients get sub-standard experience and care, while doctors are forced into catering to much more patient load than they can do justice to, a senior medico said.

The shortage of staff in peripheral hospitals is the primary step in improving healthcare delivery in J&K at both rural and urban levels.