SRINAGAR; 24, April 2013: While the valley’s healthcare is already under severe criticism, this time it is the Valley’s lone tertiary care, LalDed hospital, where acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff is giving tough time to the patients.
The official records reveal that at an average some 50-80 surgeries are conducted in a day and at times, the number of surgeries exceeds to more than 120, but the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff not only delays the operations but also puts extra burden on the staff.

If sources are to be believed the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff has badly affected the hospital functioning and has put additional burden on the available staff. “The patient care is in mess. You can see how patients are in long queues waiting for their turn and there is no one to see them,” said a doctor pleading anonymity.

Besides this, the shortage of the staff has also affected normal health services and other OPD services in the hospital.

The irony is that the hospital has failed to fulfil the Medical Council of India (MCI) norms because as per the norms, one nurse has to look after four patients but here the situation is upside down. “Against the strength of 32 house surgeons and 60 postgraduates, the hospital is short of 30 house surgeons and 40 post graduates,” they said.

However, the committee was framed to fulfil the vacant posts but due to several reasons the vacancies are not filled yet that has left the hospital in mess.“There is a manifold increase in the patient rush but the availability of staff is decreasing. At an average some 800 to 1000 patients visit the LD Hospital and the number sometimes reaches 900. Doctors and paramedical staff get overburdened due to increasing number of patients,” said a doctor.

while Talking with Medical Superintendent of the hospital Dr Mushtaq said that they are expecting more staff within one week. “We have got 25 junior doctors and 20 house surgeons from GMC. All the formalities have been fulfilled,” he said.