Hyderabad: Major hospitals struggle with severe shortage of senior doctors

Likewise, Gandhi and Osmania General Hospitals lack senior cardiologists, including Professors and Assistant Professors, for both patient care and PG medical student training, despite specialty PG seats being allocated based on the presence of senior faculty.

Hyderabad: A tertiary hospital the size of Gandhi Hospital with nearly 2000 inpatient beds and over 1000 daily outpatients has only two radiologists for training PG specialty medical students and oversee diagnostic tests of patients. At Osmania Medical College and General Hospital, there is no dermatologist (Professor) to teach dermatology PG medical students and treat patients.

Similarly, at Gandhi and Osmania General Hospitals, senior cardiologists of Professors and Assistant Professors cadre are not available for patients and PG medical students, although speciality PG medical seats were allocated based on the availability of senior faculty.

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Till a few months, Niloufer Hospital did not have a radiologist to teach PG medical students and evaluate diagnostic tests of patients. Recently, a junior radiologist was roped-in on contract basis to provide these services.

Months after the unplanned and hasty transfers, that were taken-up by the State health department at the behest of the State government, patients and PG medical students continue to suffer due to absence of senior doctors.

“There is no need for Professors or Associate Professors of more than 30 years experience to be stationed at remote district teaching hospitals. A senor resident is enough to fulfil the responsibility at remote government hospitals. In tertiary hospitals at Warangal and Hyderabad, such senior doctors are needed, as they could be more effective,” OGH Professors said.

At present, there is a clear imbalance between demand and supply, as patients do not have access to senior Professors at State-run tertiary hospitals in Hyderabad. In contrast, Professors of Nephrology, Cardiology, General Surgery, Dermatology and Radiology, who were posted at remote locations, have very less number of PG students and patients to deal with.

“The State government should have undertaken a proper study before taking-up transfers. Now, clearly patients and PG medical students are suffering and nobody is bothered. The earlier BRS government had ensured all senior faculty and doctors were available at major tertiary hospitals to ensure quality of specialty health care,” senior doctors familiar with the issue said.