City’s public health department continues have several vacancies

The number of vacancies in the posts of public health professionals in the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists has increased in various zones of the city, affecting clinical services.

At least 311 vacancies in the posts of doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists have not been filled in the GCC facilities including 140 urban primary health centres.

A councillor who did not wish to be named said the residents in areas such as Mogappair, Padi, and the western parts of the city have demanded additional doctors as the number of out-patients visiting GCC hospitals have increased after the hospital infrastructure received a makeover and the GCC has not recruited professionals for clinical posts.

Geetha Ganesh, secretary of AGC Colony Residents Welfare Association, Velachery West, said the number of out-patients have increased in GCC hospitals and residents demand additional doctors, nurses, pharmacists, data entry operators, and lab technicians to improve services. “The services have already improved in the Health and Wellness Centres. Evening clinics are functioning. If we get more doctors, services will improve,” she said.

A few months ago, Chennai Corporation hired 155 doctors and various public health professionals to improve services. However, attrition has affected services.

Six months ago, the civic body reported more than 50% vacancies in the Public Health Department with a sanctioned post of 819 and vacancies crossed 450. Even after GCC started hiring doctors and other professionals, many of the vacancies to posts in the clinical side has not been filled. Out of the 94 sanctioned posts of medical officers in the GCC, 51 were vacant six months ago. Even as GCC officials claim that the vacancies of doctors are estimated at 15, many councillors have complained about vacancies in the clinical posts.

Of the 75 sanctioned posts for pharmacists, 41 vacancies were reported six months ago. The condition has reportedly deteriorated in the past few months. Posts of nurses have also been vacant in many centres.

Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Associations president T.K. Shanmugham said the GCC should create new Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in each of the 60 wards that do not have the facilities. “Residents belonging to the working class demand additional maternity hospitals in each of the Assembly constituencies in north Chennai,” he said.

An official of the Chennai Corporation said that clinical professionals will be hired next month. At least 12 additional doctors will be hired next month. In addition, seven more doctors will be hired for filling vacancies in the health and wellness centres of GCC next month, he said. Additional nurses will also be hired shortly.