Chandigarh: Taking suo motu cognisance of a Times of India report, the Punjab State Human Rights Commission (PSHRC) has sought an explanation from the state health department over the acute shortage of medical professionals at three premier cancer care institutions in Punjab.The TOI report, published on July 23, highlighted alarming staff vacancies at Govt Medical College, Amritsar; Tertiary Care Cancer Centre (TCCC) at Civil Hospital, Fazilka; and two hospitals run by the Tata Memorial Centre — Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital (HBCH), Sangrur, and Homi Bhabha Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (HBCH&RC), New Chandigarh.At Govt Medical College, Amritsar, only 19 of the 43 sanctioned posts are filled, leaving 24 posts (55.81%) vacant. These include all senior resident positions in radiotherapy, multiple vacancies in surgical oncology, and complete staff shortages in the nuclear medicine and medical oncology departments. At Civil Hospital, Fazilka, only four of 28 sanctioned posts (14.28%) are currently filled. The hospital lacks professors and associate professors in radiotherapy and surgical oncology, and preventive oncology is short of even an assistant professor.The situation is equally dire at the Tata Memorial Centre-run facilities. Out of 637 sanctioned posts across HBCH Sangrur and HBCH&RC New Chandigarh, 393 posts (61.69%) remain vacant. These include serious gaps in medical, scientific, technical, and nursing staff, with 223 nursing positions unfilled out of a sanctioned 340.In addition, the commission noted that despite an earlier direction in a case order dated June 23, no report was yet been submitted by the directorate health. “Neither any communication nor the required report has been received from the department,” the commission observed. The commission has now granted a final opportunity to the directorate health to submit the report at least one week before the next date of hearing. Failing this, the director health will be required to appear in person and explain why action under Section 16 of the Protection of Human Rights Act should not be initiated.
