Chandigarh, August 21: With the fear of third wave of Covid-19 looming large and Opposition seeking answers on preparation, shortage of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and lab technicians has come to the fore during the question hour of the Haryana Assembly.
In reply to a query by Congress MLA Varun Chaudhary, the Health Department said, “There is a shortage of 27.3 per cent medical officers as against the sanctioned strength of 3,596, 980 positions are vacant. Among senior medical officers, it is 35.4 per cent as 209 of 590 positions are vacant.
“The vacancies should be filled soon. We need more specialist doctors,” said Dr Jasbir Parmar, president, Haryana Civil Medical Services Association. There is a vacancy of 79.3 per cent in case of matrons and 57.1 per cent at the level of assistant matrons. There are 436 sanctioned posts of nursing sister, but out of them 228 are vacant, which is 52.3 per cent. Among public health nurses, there is a vacancy of 82.1 per cent as 96 posts are vacant out of 117.
There are 4,403 sanctioned posts of staff nurse, but just 2,143 are working (shortage of 51.3 per cent).
“In the times of Covid, what have we learnt? The data shows we are sitting like ducks before the third wave. What corrective measures have we taken? The huge shortage reflects poor preparation. That was why this question was asked,” said Chaudhary. The government reply mentioned that “the filling of vacancies is a continuous process”.
The situation is similar among dental surgeons. There are 703 sanctioned posts, but 110 are vacant (15.6 per cent). Among senior dental surgeons, the vacancy is 49.1 per cent as 26 posts are vacant out of 53. Among dental assistant-cum-mechanic, there is shortfall of 61.8 per cent.
There are 1,082 sanctioned posts of pharmacists, but 716 are on job. There is a shortfall of 366, which is 33.8 per cent. Similarly, there is a shortfall of 16 chief pharmacists against 36 posts.
Only 78 ophthalmic assistants are employed against the sanctioned strength of 195. The vacancy is 60 per cent. Only 90 radiographers are working in the health department against the sanctioned strength of 322. There is a vacancy of 232 (72 per cent).
A total of 711 posts of lab technicians are vacant out of the sanctioned strength of 1,057. It amounts to 67.3 per cent.
Similarly, among senior lab technicians, there is a shortfall of 71.7 per cent as 33 posts are vacant out of 46. Just four lab attendants are working against the sanctioned strength of 32. As many as 67 posts (70.5 per cent) of ECG technicians are vacant out of 95. Among physiotherapists, 55 posts are vacant out of 62 (88.7 per cent).
Shortfall in health dept
27.3% shortage of medical officers
79.3% vacancy in case of matrons
90 radiographers working against sanctioned strength of 322
711 posts of lab technician vacant out of 1,057
