‘ Paucity of trained medical professionals a challenge’

With paucity of skilled and trained medical professionals a major challenge to the city’s healthcare system, experts believe that to address the issue of shortage of doctors and other medical professionals, there is a dire need to figure out how to utilise the available human resources properly and it should the vacancies are filled in timely manner.

Observers also emphasise that the problem can- not be sorted out only at the primary health level as there is also a severe shortage of specialists and super- specialists and in order to strengthen the healthcare delivery system at the core this problem too required to be addressed.

“As far as the talent crunch in healthcare goes, there are two major issues leading the hospitals are facing today — inadequacy and underutilisation. Not only are we faced with a massive shortfall of trained medical professionals, we are also having a tough time putting the available talent to use. Optimum utilisation of available resources is a big issue,” Dr Vishnu Panigrahi, group head, medical strategy and operations, Fortis Healthcare Ltd, said.

Echoing similar views, Arvind Pandit, CEO of VIA Health Resources, asserts that the current “underutilisation” of skilled people in the healthcare industry is “undoubtedly” a concern about the evolution of healthcare delivery. “The sad reality is that healthcare professionals are many times placed inappropriately, not in accordance to their fit for the role. This needs to be addressed immediately,” he said.

Improper utilisation of resources needs to be looked at in the context of the huge shortfall of medical professionals. Besides, experts believe that the perception that there is no problem in the urban areas, and it is only the rural areas that need work is not entirely correct.

Senior neurosurgeon J. Kumar asserts that it’s not just the rural areas, but the urban areas, like Delhi, too face a critical shortage of doctors. “Of course, the infrastructure is mostly in place in the urban areas, but there are just not enough trained professionals to put it to proper use. The absence of a mechanism to put right people in the right roles complicates the situation further.”

Experts agree that in the long- term, the processes that have already been set in motion by the government will go a long way in helping deal with the problem. However, they point out that in order to provide infallible solutions it is also important to identify channels which could ensure that the proficiencies of existing healthcare professionals are utilised properly.