Rajasthan Health Minister Attributes Hospital Staff Shortages to MLA Interference
In a candid admission during the Assembly session on Tuesday, Rajasthan Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar identified recommendations by Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) for transfers and amendments in posting lists as a key factor behind the persistent vacancies plaguing government hospitals across the state. The minister made these remarks while replying to the debate on health grant demands, highlighting a systemic issue that undermines healthcare delivery.
Minister's Plea to Legislators: Stop Recommendations to Fill Vacancies
Gajendra Singh Khimsar directly addressed the MLAs, stating, "We are culprits for it (for vacant posts in govt hospitals). Promise me that you won't make any recommendations. I will arrange things in such a way that not a single position in your hospital will remain vacant." He elaborated that despite deploying 1,000 doctors to various constituencies, subsequent changes were frequently sought through such recommendations, disrupting staffing stability.
The minister emphasized, "If you do not initiate unnecessary recommendations, I promise that not a single position in any hospital will remain vacant. But this is our weakness; we are the ones suffering and also the ones crying." This statement underscores the paradoxical role of legislators in both contributing to and lamenting the staffing crises.
Initiatives to Streamline Postings and Address Regional Disparities
Khimsar detailed efforts by the health department to mitigate these issues. For the first time, posting preferences were sought from doctors and nursing staff, leading to the deployment of 25,000 personnel, including in challenging tribal and desert areas. However, he noted a persistent preference among staff for urban centers such as Jaipur, Kota, Jhunjhunu, Sikar, Ajmer, Udaipur, and Jodhpur, resulting in surpluses in cities and acute shortages in remote regions.
To curb external interference, a computerised posting system was introduced. "We posted 1,000 PG doctors through this computerised process to make the trauma centres and first referral units functional," Khimsar explained, highlighting the system's role in enhancing operational efficiency in critical healthcare facilities.
Contentious Debate Shifts to Post-Covid Health Concerns
The Assembly debate later turned contentious when Congress MLA Ghanshyam Mahar claimed a rise in heart attack cases following the Covid-19 pandemic and called for research into vaccines. Leader of Opposition Tikaram July supported this with a demand for a scientific probe. BJP MLAs, including minister Madan Dilawar, objected to these assertions.
In a heated exchange, BJP MLA Shrichand Kripalani questioned Mahar about which vaccine he had received, to which Mahar replied he did not know and alleged possible irregularities in the vaccination process. Separately, BJP MLA Kesaram Chaudhary advocated for a permanent ban on hospitals found committing fraud under schemes like the Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS), adding another layer to the discussion on healthcare integrity.
This multifaceted debate in the Rajasthan Assembly not only exposed the administrative challenges in hospital staffing but also reflected broader concerns over post-pandemic health outcomes and regulatory enforcement in the healthcare sector.
