Posted By :  Admin1

The neurosurgery, cardio-thoracic vascular surgery (CTVS), and plastic surgery departments of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH-32) have raised serious concerns over an acute shortage of resident doctors. Faculty members have warned that patient care and emergency services are at risk if additional staff support is not provided.

According to doctors, the shortage has worsened after postgraduate residents from general surgery were withdrawn from these departments starting October 1. At present, CTVS and plastic surgery are each being run by only one consultant, assisted by a single junior resident and an intern. The neurosurgery department, which has been functional since 1996, is managing with just two consultants, one junior resident, and one intern, despite heavy patient inflow.

On a daily basis, neurosurgery handles 30 to 40 inpatients, a high-dependency unit, trauma block patients, and nearly 100 outpatients. Consultants are also conducting four major operation theatre sessions every week. Doctors said it is becoming increasingly difficult to manage round-the-clock emergencies and surgeries without adequate resident support.

Faculty members have pointed out that the workload is severely affecting the mental and physical health of consultants, many of whom are working 24-hour shifts. They have urged the administration to urgently post senior and junior residents to ensure smooth functioning of critical departments and to prevent disruption of emergency and postoperative care.