Will Vishwajit address staff shortage at district hospital?
MARGAO
When Health Minister Vishwajit Rane visits the South Goa District Hospital on Friday to preside over the World Mental Health Day programme, doctors and paramedical staff may have more on their minds than the day’s observance.
It has been nearly a month and half now since the hospital increased its bed capacity from 350 to 500, yet it has not received the corresponding increase in doctors, nurses, and multi-tasking staff (MTS) needed to manage the growing patient load.
Back in August, when the Health Director instructed the district hospital to augment its bed capacity, assurances were given that additional manpower would be sanctioned — around 20 doctors and 50 each of nurses and MTS. However, despite the expansion, not a single new staff member has been deployed so far.
While the additional beds have helped ensure that every patient now has a bed — unlike earlier, when many were treated on stretchers or wheelchairs due to space constraints — the increased workload has left the existing staff overwhelmed.
Doctors, nurses, and MTS have been repeatedly appealing to the hospital administration to take up the matter with the health authorities.
“We will raise the issue of additional manpower with the Health Minister during his visit on Friday. How long can the existing staff continue under such pressure? There are established norms for staff-to-patient ratios, but at the district hospital, these have been completely disregarded,” remarked one doctor.
Another doctor expressed concern that the healthcare system could soon buckle under the strain. “Even when the hospital had 350 beds, the manpower was below the required norms. Now, with 500 beds, the workload on the existing staff has only intensified,” he said.
The medical fraternity hopes that the Health Minister’s visit will bring the long-awaited relief in the form of additional staff to match the expanded infrastructure.
