Chandigarh: Chandigarh’s public healthcare system is facing mounting pressure as more than 800 nursing and paramedical posts remain vacant across the city’s three major government hospitals, according to details shared by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in Parliament.
The disclosure came in response to an unstarred question raised by Chandigarh Member of Parliament Manish Tewari in the Lok Sabha, drawing attention to staffing shortages at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32 (GMCH-32), and Government Multi-Speciality Hospital, Sector 16 (GMSH-16).
834 Vacancies Across Chandigarh’s Key Health Institutions
According to the official data tabled in Parliament, the combined shortfall of nursing and paramedical staff across the three hospitals stands at 834 posts, a figure that underlines the strain on patient care services in the Union Territory.
Vacancy Breakdown by Hospital
PGIMER
- Nursing vacancies: 247
- Paramedical vacancies: 120
GMCH-32
- Nursing vacancies: 281
- Paramedical vacancies: 86
GMSH-16
- Nursing vacancies: 30
- Paramedical vacancies: 70
The ministry acknowledged that PGIMER is currently operating beyond its optimal capacity to ensure uninterrupted patient services, a situation that reflects the increasing load on India’s premier referral institute.
Impact on OPD, Emergency and Trauma Services
Responding to concerns about whether staff shortages have affected critical services, the Centre stated that OPD, emergency and trauma care are being managed with existing manpower at GMCH-32 and GMSH-16.
However, the situation at PGIMER appears more challenging. The institute has formally communicated that it is overstretched, dealing with high patient inflow amid limited staffing resources.
To bridge the gap, hospitals have continued to rely on outsourced nursing and paramedical staff, deployed based on immediate requirements.
Promotions Held Up at PGI Due to CAT Order
The ministry also clarified the status of promotions within these institutions. While GMCH-32 and GMSH-16 reported no delays in staff promotions, PGIMER faces a roadblock.
Nursing promotions at PGIMER are currently stalled due to an order by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT), Chandigarh, which has restrained the institute from holding its Departmental Promotion Committee (DPC) meetings. The tribunal has directed PGIMER to meet compliance conditions within a six-month timeframe before proceeding.
Centre Says Recruitment Is a Continuous Process
Addressing the broader issue of vacancies, the Union Health Ministry stated that creation and filling of posts is an ongoing administrative exercise, adding that recruitment efforts continue alongside outsourcing arrangements to prevent disruption of services.
Manish Tewari Flags Serious Governance Concerns
Speaking to The Tribune, MP Manish Tewari expressed deep concern over the staffing crisis, calling it a fundamental governance issue.
“Staffing and human resource optimisation is a pre-requisite for the smooth functioning of any medical institution. All pending vacancies must be filled immediately, and the arbitrariness intrinsic to outsourcing processes must be proscribed by the hospital administrations,” he said.
Tewari stressed that public hospitals catering to lakhs of patients cannot function effectively without adequate and stable manpower.
Growing Pressure on Public Healthcare in Chandigarh
With patient footfall steadily rising, especially at PGIMER, healthcare experts warn that prolonged understaffing could impact service quality, staff morale and patient safety if long-term recruitment solutions are not implemented.
The issue has once again highlighted the urgent need for systematic recruitment, transparent promotion mechanisms and reduced dependence on temporary staffing in Chandigarh’s government health institutions.