PGIMERs temporary OPD at Satellite Centre in Una has no doctors

The Post-graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), has come face to face with a unique problem of not being able to find the medical manpower to equip its temporary Out Patient Department (OPD) started at its proposed satellite center in Una, Himachal Pradesh.

The walk-in interviews organized by PGIMER on September 18 for 10 posts of senior resident doctors, saw just one come in for the Department of Ophthalmology. He was selected for the position. However, the scheduled 29^th September interviews had to be canceled in the absence of applications for the interview.

The Government of Himachal Pradesh has yet to allot land to the PGI, for setting up of the Satellite Centre in Una. However, 5 rooms have been allotted at the regional hospital in Una, from where the PGIMER would operate its temporary OPD.

PGI officials say getting doctors will be a challenge. Professor Jagat Ram, PGI, Director, told Chandigarh Newsline that the college administration was trying its level best to get doctors for the OPD. "The government has provided us rooms to start the OPD. Once we get the doctors, we will start the services. It would obviously upgrade health services in the area." The PGI Director assured that efforts would be made again to conduct interviews.

A senior PGI faculty, however, said that the administration was not offering much to the doctors. "PGI is only offering a good salary to the doctors for Una. After joining the satellite center, they (doctors) won't get much other than the salary….," he told Indian Express, adding, "The government and the administration need to think about the issue."

According to a PGIMER advertisement released on September 23, the remuneration to be paid to senior resident doctors would be Rs 60,000 per month. The posts are meant to be, on a yearly contract, initially. The institute wants to start OPD in various specialties, including obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery and orthopaedics.

A senior official said PGI may also send deputing resident doctors from the main campus. "But, the institute has to take a call because the PGI main campus is already overburdened with patients and it would be difficult to depute doctors there," he said.

A committee formed by PGIMER to work out modalities on how to float a temporary OPD unit has also inspected the site in Una. PGI doctors are of the view that the administration has been under pressure from the Centre to start the temporary OPD in view of the oncoming state Assembly elections, reports the Indian Express.