Govt hospitals face shortage of specialist doctors; 1 nurse for 60 patients

Thiruvananthapuram: An audit report has highlighted a severe shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals in Kerala, particularly in taluk hospitals. It was also revealed that none of the inspected community health centres had gynaecologists. 

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report recommends that the government take steps to increase the number of doctors in proportion to the population.

The audit conducted across 53 hospitals found a shortage of 147 doctors. Additionally, only 12 of the 32 family health centres had staff according to prescribed standards.

Meanwhile, the district general hospitals were found to lack specialists in microbiology and pathology departments, while taluk hospitals had unfilled posts for radiologists and pathologists. There was also a shortage of gynaecologists, anaesthetists, and dental surgeons.

The report noted that while guidelines suggest one nurse for every six beds in general wards, Neyyattinkara General Hospital had only one nurse for 60 beds during the third shift. In some hospitals, there was just one nurse for up to 51 beds. The audit indicated that in some locations, nurse shortages reached 73%, but the government has not responded.

In many areas, only one lab technician was available where two were needed, and 13 of the 32 family health centres had no lab technicians at all.

Medical colleges in the state also face staffing issues, with a 15.55% vacancy rate for doctors. The audit covered medical colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, Alappuzha, and Manjeri, where, despite meeting the required number of positions, senior residents have not been appointed. At Manjeri, only 90 out of 150 required teaching staff positions have been filled.

The AYUSH department has 183 vacant doctor positions, 112 vacant nurse positions, and 207 vacant paramedical staff positions. Additionally, 243 other support staff positions remain unfilled.