At PGIMS, 150 posts of nurse vacant

Tribune News Service

Rohtak, May 3

A team of the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan Haryana, a network of organisations engaged in health awareness and advocacy, today visited the PGIMS here to inspect the working of the clinical department and wards, and to identify problems being faced by doctors, nurses and other staff in dealing with Covid.

Satnam Singh, state convener of the abhiyan, said: “The situation in the PGIMS is worsening by the day. Many doctors, nurses, technicians and other members of the staff have tested Covid-positive. Many of them have contracted the infection twice as kits and other safety materials are in short supply. There is no space to accommodate infected staff.”

Resident doctors and PG students, who have contracted the virus the second time, have been told to vacate the hostel immediately. Since isolation wards are full and their home is far away, they are in a fix.

Suresh Kumar, state co-convener of the abhiyan, pointed out another problem the PGIMS was facing. “The hospital is facing shortage of nurses. For a 2,050-bed hospital, 3,100 nurses are required as per the norms of the Nursing Council of India. But only 1,225 posts of nurse are sanctioned. Of them, around 150 posts are lying vacant. The need of the hour is to fill the vacant posts and sanction 1,900 posts of nurse urgently.”

Neither PGIMS Medical Superintendent Pushpa Dahiya nor Public Relations Officer (PRO) Dr Varun Arora could be contacted for their comments.