Punjab's Rural Healthcare System in Critical Condition
The Punjab Health Department has made a startling admission before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, revealing severe doctor shortages that are crippling healthcare services in rural areas. In a counter-affidavit filed on November 7, 2025, the department conceded that eight out of ten sanctioned medical officer positions at the Community Health Centre in Sur Singh Wala, Tarn Taran district, remain vacant.
The disclosure came in response to a Public Interest Litigation filed by the People Welfare Society, an NGO represented by counsel Kanwar Pahul Singh. The petition highlighted the government's failure to adequately staff the healthcare facility, resulting in emergency services being non-functional for several years and forcing residents to travel long distances for medical treatment.
Breaking Down the Vacancy Crisis
Dr R S Padha, Senior Medical Officer of CHC Sur Singh, provided a detailed breakdown of the staffing crisis in his filing. The situation is particularly alarming for specialist positions:
Of the five sanctioned general medical officer posts, only two are currently filled, leaving three positions vacant. More critically, all five specialist positions - covering medicine, surgery, gynaecology, paediatrics, and anaesthesia - remain completely unfilled.
This means the community health centre, which serves thousands of rural residents, is operating with just 20% of its required medical staff. The affidavit acknowledges that this severe understaffing is part of a broader statewide healthcare crunch but admits the situation is particularly acute in the Tarn Taran district.
Recruitment Efforts Falling Short
While the health department claims to be addressing the shortage, the timeline reveals significant delays in the recruitment process. The affidavit states that vacant general medical officer posts "will be filled up shortly as the recruitment process of 1,000 medical officers is going on."
However, the details suggest a slower-than-expected process. The recruitment drive began earlier in 2025, with Baba Farid University of Health Sciences releasing provisional merit lists between June 24 and July 4. Final results were sent to the government on July 18, and appointment letters were issued to 322 candidates on August 29, followed by postings on September 1.
An additional 381 offers were extended on September 4, with temporary deployments prioritizing 18 flood-affected districts on May 9. Despite these efforts, the critical specialist positions face even longer delays. Recruitment for 160 specialist posts will only "be initiated by the government shortly after necessary approvals from the competent authority."
Broader Implications for Punjab's Healthcare
The filing reveals that the staffing crisis extends beyond Sur Singh Wala, with district-wide acute shortages across Punjab. The health department is undertaking restructuring and rationalization of sanctioned posts to redistribute the workforce, but no firm timeline has been provided for addressing the specific gaps at the Tarn Taran facility.
Infrastructure concerns compound the staffing issues. New OPD complexes, residential quarters, and emergency block repairs are "under preview" by the Punjab Health Systems Corporation, which will file a separate reply regarding these matters.
The People Welfare Society's counsel has urged the court to issue a writ of mandamus demanding "immediate and steadfast steps" to prevent a complete healthcare collapse in underserved rural areas. The case highlights the ongoing challenges in delivering adequate healthcare to Punjab's rural population and raises serious questions about the effectiveness of current recruitment strategies.
As the situation continues to develop, thousands of rural residents in Tarn Taran district remain without access to basic emergency medical services, forced to seek treatment in distant cities like Amritsar or Tarn Taran despite having a community health centre in their vicinity.
