BAHAWALPUR-The recruitment of doctors has become a big challenge for the Punjab government amidst the tall claims of spending billions of rupees on the health sector.
Due to unavailability of doctors in tehsil headquarters hospitals of Bahawalpur District, the citizens are at the mercy of junior doctors.
Patients' death ratio and burden on the big cities hospital have increased due to non availability of consultants at their native towns.
Twenty-three posts of doctors out of 48 are vacant while only 9 senior medical officers are working against the sanctioned strength of more than 35. Thirty seats of women medical officers are lying vacant while only 48 nurses are working out of total 145 seats.
Two posts of orthopaedic surgeon, 1 of pathologist, 1 of radiologist, one of eye specialist and 1 post of anaesthesia specialist are vacant in Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Ahmedpur East while 2 specialist doctors are working on ad-hoc basis.
Similarly, 11 posts of senior medical officer are lying vacant against 11 sanctioned posts while 30 posts of nurses are also vacant in Tehsil Headquarters Hospital. It is first registered hospital with Healthcare Commission Punjab.
In Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Yazman, one post of physician, one of pathologist, one of radiologist, and one of anaesthesia specialist are vacant.
As many as 11 posts of senior medical officer are also lying vacant against 11 sanctioned posts while 11 posts of nurses are also vacant in THQ Hospital Yazman.
One post of general surgeon, 1 post of physician, 1 of pathologist and 1 post of anaesthesia specialist are vacant in Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Khairpur Tamiwali while 2 specialist doctors of gynaecology are working on ad-hoc. Besides, 8 posts of nurses are also vacant.
In Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Hasilpur, the posts of all main consultants are lying vacant including 1 post of senior consultant, one post of surgeon, 1 post of cardiologist, 1 post of paediatrician, 1 post of orthopaedic surgeon, 1 of pathologist, 1 post of radiologist and 1 post of anaesthesia specialist while 8 posts of senior medical officers are also vacant.
In the 12 rural health centres of district Bahawalpur, there are 24 posts of senior medical officers while only 2 are working.
Out of total 66 sanctioned posts of women medical officers, 30 posts are lying vacant.