Patna: Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), one of Bihar’s largest government healthcare institutions, is facing a significant shortage of doctors and medical faculty, with 203 of its 589 sanctioned faculty positions currently vacant.
The shortage is affecting patient care as well as the teaching and clinical training of MBBS and postgraduate students, particularly in departments such as medicine, surgery, radiology, burn care, respiratory medicine, dermatology and anaesthesia.
PMCH receives more than 3,000 patients daily in its outpatient and emergency departments. According to the available data, around 2,000 to 2,200 of these patients seek treatment in departments facing significant faculty shortages.
Only 386 Faculty Members Against 589 Sanctioned Posts
Of the 589 sanctioned faculty positions at PMCH, 386 are currently occupied, while 203 remain vacant.
The vacancies include 38 of 96 professor posts, 101 of 175 associate professor posts and 247 of 318 assistant professor posts, according to the data provided.
The institution is also facing vacancies among tutors, demonstrators and senior residents. Of 229 sanctioned positions in these categories, 110 are reportedly vacant.
Medicine Department Faces Severe Shortage
The medicine department, which handles one of the highest patient loads at PMCH, has only nine faculty members against 40 sanctioned posts.
The department receives around 400 to 500 patients daily in its outpatient department. Of its sanctioned posts, only three of nine professors, one of 12 associate professors and five of 19 assistant professors are currently working.
The shortage could increase pressure on ward rounds, emergency supervision, treatment of complex cases and postgraduate clinical training.
Shortage In Burn And Surgery Departments
PMCH’s 60-bed burn ward reportedly has only one associate professor. The faculty member is responsible not only for supervising patient care but also for the training of postgraduate doctors.
The surgery department is also facing a shortage of senior faculty, with only two professors working against five sanctioned posts.
Several other departments, including radiology, chest and respiratory medicine, anaesthesia, ENT, pathology and microbiology, are also reported to have fewer faculty members than their sanctioned strength.
Pressure On Medical Education And Clinical Training
Faculty shortages have implications beyond classroom teaching. Senior doctors supervise complex clinical cases, monitor operations and emergency services, conduct ward rounds and guide junior and postgraduate doctors.
PMCH currently trains students across 250 MBBS and 250 postgraduate seats. Medical education requires adequate faculty and clinical resources to meet regulatory standards.
The available data suggests that prolonged faculty shortages could create challenges for the institution during regulatory inspections, although current vacancies alone do not automatically determine the status of postgraduate course recognition.
PMCH Says Vacancies Have Been Reported
The PMCH administration said it is managing patient care and academic activities with the available resources and has adjusted work responsibilities in departments facing shortages.
According to the administration, details of the vacant positions have been sent to the health department, and communication regarding fresh appointments has been initiated.
The hospital expects the situation to improve as new doctors and faculty members are appointed to vacant positions.
