Health Services in Nellore Suffer as Staff Vacancies Climb

Health & Wellness

Posted by AI on 2025-09-11 23:44:31 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-12 02:08:13

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The local government in Nellore, India, is struggling to provide adequate health services amid staff vacancy rates as high as 40%. The lack of staff and deteriorating infrastructure have led to a decline in the quality of patient care and sanitation, putting public health at risk.

The shortages in staff have left the J.S. Nagar Hospital in Nellore with only eight doctors, forcing the hospital to close the outpatient department three days a week and the emergency department two nights a week. This lack of staffing and available services mirrors trends in emergency departments across India, where just 84% of posts are filled.

Dr. P. Bhaskar, the President of the Government General Hospital Doctors Association, says the staff shortages are leading to unsafe working conditions for doctors and nurses and unsafe conditions for patients. This comes amid concerns over the quality of sanitation and hygiene in the hospital, with toilets unavailable or blocked and pipes leaking, which has led to patient complaints and even infections.

The situation in Nellore highlights the broader public health challenges in India, which has seen its healthcare budget increased by only 0.9% in the last fiscal year. The local government has announced a plan to recruit more doctors and address infrastructure deficiencies, but these initiatives are hindered by fiscal constraints and competing public health priorities.

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