AP has shortfall of specialist doctors: CAG

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh has a shortfall of 743 specialist doctors and medical officers against the sanctioned posts of 3,316 in secondary healthcare, underlining the need to provide the required human resources to deliver healthcare services effectively at both primary and secondary levels.

A report from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India on ‘Public Health Infrastructure and Management of Health Services in Andhra Pradesh’ for the period 2017-18 to 2021-22 highlighted major findings in a performance audit. The report states that 149 out of 608 posts in the professor cadre and 156 out of 744 posts in the associate professor cadre across 11 government medical colleges are vacant.

The CAG also pointed out that trauma care centers are understaffed and require additional manpower.

The report mentions that the health department is not maintaining a centralized database of sanctioned strength, staff in position, and unit-wise deployment of staff. The CAG recommends that the state government develop a Human Resource Management System to track staff deployment in real-time across all healthcare facilities.

Additionally, Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are unavailable in five out of 12 district hospitals, and the equipment in existing ICUs and obstetric high-dependency units are non-functional due to a shortage of manpower, depriving critical care and life support for patients.

The CAG also found near-expiry drugs worth Rs 2.14 crore distributed to healthcare facilities at three test-checked Central Drug Stores and recommended that the government ensure the timely return of near-expiry drugs to suppliers for replacement of stocks.

The report further highlights the lack of provision for local purchase of drugs and medicines when the required drugs are either unavailable or out of stock in primary and secondary healthcare facilities. Additionally, there are only 175 community health centers in the state, whereas 412 are required as per Indian Public Health Standards.

Regarding patient surveys, the CAG found that patients often opt for private treatment due to the shortage of equipment. It recommends that the government ensure the provision of necessary amenities and equipment to healthcare facilities.

Moreover, the state government has not released its share of Rs 350.93 crore for the years 2017-22 towards various programs under the National Health Mission, the CAG noted.