CHANDIGARH, Dec 12 — Three of Chandigarh’s largest government hospitals are operating with more than 800 nursing and paramedical vacancies, the Union Health Ministry has informed Parliament. The shortages are affecting patient load management, with PGIMER confirming it is functioning beyond optimal capacity.
In a reply to an unstarred question by Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Prataprao Jadhav detailed the sanctioned and vacant posts at PGIMER, GMCH-32 and GMSH-16.
PGIMER reported 247 vacant nursing posts and 120 paramedical positions, while GMCH-32 listed 281 nursing and 86 paramedical vacancies. GMSH-16 has 30 nursing and 70 paramedical posts lying vacant. The ministry said OPD, emergency and trauma services are being managed with the existing workforce at GMCH and GMSH, even as PGIMER remains overstretched.
The Centre also said GMCH and GMSH have indicated no delay in promotions. At PGIMER, however, nursing promotions have been halted following a CAT Chandigarh order restricting the institute from holding its Departmental Promotion Committee meeting until compliance steps are completed within six months.
Hospitals continue to rely on outsourced nursing and paramedical staff depending on daily requirements, the ministry added. It described the creation and filling of posts as an ongoing administrative process.
The three institutions handle among the highest patient footfalls in North India, with officials confirming that staff shortages affect patient movement, emergency turnaround and trauma management.
