The Himachal Pradesh High Court recently issued notice to the Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Health) to the Govt of H.P, Director (Health) and Block Medical Officer, Rohru, in a case involving lack of paramedical staff in Rohru civil hospital.
A division bench of Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Virender Singh passed this order on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation, on the basis of a news item published in a newspaper on May 16, 2023.
According to the news report, Civil Hospital Rohru sees between 400 and 500 patients daily, but because of a lack of paramedical staff, patients are constrained to wander for medication.
It also reported that that out of 31 posts of nurses, 17 are lying vacant and likewise, out of 9 posts of pharmacists only 3 posts have been filled up.
Doctors are required to relieve paramedical staff of their duties in the event of a leave of absence.
Additionally, some nurses have been engaged during the COVID period and if their services are discontinued, the working of the hospital will be hampered severely.
The local MLA has been informed of the situation by the locals, but the Health Department has not yet taken any steps to fill the open positions. The populace harbors resentment.
The matter is now scheduled for further consideration on 23rd May, 2023.
