Jagatsinghpur District Headquarters Hospital has 80 vacant doctor posts out of 132 sanctioned positions, leaving nearly 60% of its approved medical strength unfilled for more than a year and putting pressure on treatment and referrals, according to a report by the Times of India. The hospital currently has 52 doctors.
The vacancies have affected key departments, with radiology, anaesthesia and surgery reportedly functioning without doctors for more than six months. Jagatsinghpur residents said serious patients are frequently referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack because the district hospital cannot provide some specialist services.
Jagatsinghpur chief district medical officer Dr Saroj Kumar Jena acknowledged the shortage. “We have already informed the authorities about the vacant doctor posts in the district. We hope the govt will soon appoint more doctors,” he said, according to the report.
The staffing gap is being reported in a district that includes Paradip, a port and industrial hub with around 15 industries, factories and plants. Residents have raised concerns about health problems they associate with industrial activity and coal dust in and around the area. The Central Pollution Control Board has identified the Paradip industrial area as severely polluted under its Comprehensive Environmental Pollution Index, while an IIT Delhi study has also identified the hub among polluted areas, the report said.
Residents said coal dust from Paradip port can be carried by winds beyond the port and nearby areas. Lawyer Binayak Rout called for more doctors at the district hospital, citing the health concerns faced by people living in the wider area.
The shortage is also being linked by residents to inadequate staffing, infrastructure and medicines at the hospital. They said these gaps are forcing patients to seek treatment at private nursing homes in Jagatsinghpur and other towns, increasing their out-of-pocket expenses.
“Nearly 60% of the sanctioned doctor posts are vacant. As a result, serious patients are often referred to SCB Medical College and Hospital,” retired school teacher Narendra Samal said. Social worker Bhabani Das said the government should appoint more doctors and improve existing facilities to reduce the inconvenience and financial burden on patients.
The district health administration has informed higher authorities about the vacancies. Further appointments and improvements to hospital facilities will determine whether specialist services can be restored at the district hospital.
