Hills face shortage of specialist doctors

Dehradun: As Uttarakhand nears its 25th anniversary in Nov, over 50% of specialist doctor positions remain vacant, underscoring persistent challenges in the state’s healthcare. Despite hopes for progress, the shortage of specialist doctors in the remote hills continues. Currently, about 655 (53%) of 1,252 sanctioned specialist doctor positions in the health department are not filled.
This shortage is largely attributed to past policy failures.Doctors cite inadequate salaries, insufficient education, healthcare, and travel infrastructure as reasons for their reluctance to work in these regions. Doctors highlight tuberculosis, emergencies from natural disasters, and high-risk pregnancies as the top three concerns in the hills. The situation is worsened by a severe shortage of specialist anaesthesiologists, gynaecologists, general physicians, and neurologists, who are crucial for treating these conditions.
Dr Manoj Verma, president of the Uttarakhand Provincial Medical Health Services (PMHS), an association of govt doctors, said, “Inadequate remuneration and improper housing for medical staff affect doctors’ personal lives. Hospitals lacking necessary equipment and paramedical staff impact their professional lives. An improper doctor transfer policy affects the entire system. These issues have been raised by our association with successive govts.”
The state has many initiatives, like the Ayushman Bharat Yojna, drone services for medicine and blood sample transportation, telemedicine services, and heli-ambulance services for medical emergencies. However, locals call for functional and accessible govt health facilities in villages.
Meanwhile, Indo-Tibetan Border Police has agreed to provide healthcare services to residents of border villages following a meeting between chief secretary Radha Raturi and inspector general of ITBP Sanjay Gunjyal on Friday.
Dr R Rajesh Kumar, secretary of state health department, said efforts are on to address pay, housing and equipment issues. He said, “The recruitment of 21 specialist doctors under the ‘You Quote, We Pay’ scheme and the hiring of 25 specialists set to retire this year will help fill the gaps. Housing and transit hostels are being constructed and equipment is being allocated to necessary locations.”