The amicus curiae assisting the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has highlighted a critical shortage of support staff and nursing personnel at government medical hospitals and colleges (GMCHs) in the Vidarbha region. Additionally, there are growing concerns regarding the reduction and diversion of faculty posts at the GMCH in Nagpur. These issues are impacting the quality of healthcare services in the area, raising alarms among health professionals and stakeholders alike.
Despite the expansion and increased patient footfall at the main hospital, trauma centre and super-specialty hospital, the nursing staff strength stood at 1,207, with 116 posts vacant, the amicus said. The amicus also raised concerns over the new staffing pattern introduced by the Department of Medical Education and Research (DMER) through a govt resolution dated Aug 18. Because of a shortage of attendants despite the availability of stretchers and wheelchairs, the submission came during the hearing of a suo motu PIL on the condition of healthcare services and infrastructure in GMCHs across Vidarbha, including instances where patients’ family members were forced to manually transport patients.
She said the revised pattern, based on student strength, resulted in the reduction of one professor, two associate professors, and three assistant professors from the Anatomy department at GMCH here. The amicus said interactions with professors at GMCH indicated that professor posts in Gastroenterology, CVTS, Nephrology and Endocrinology had recently been allotted or diverted to Microbiology, Preventive and Social Medicine, Neurosurgery and Orthopaedics, respectively. Her note also highlighted the expansion of specialised services at GMCH Nagpur, including liver and heart transplants, electrophysiology, robotic surgery and Cath Lab services.