Government hospitals in Tamil Nadu battle manpower shortage

‘Additional hands required at all levels’

The exponential increase in COVID-19 cases over the last two months has left government hospitals grappling with manpower shortage. Given the continuing surge and the steps taken to increase the number of beds, healthcare providers have called for immediate measures to recruit additional manpower at all levels — doctors, staff nurses, technicians and hospital workers. The State’s active case-load has increased 3.5 times over the last month. Several government hospitals that have been running to capacity are facing manpower shortage, with staff members already overworked. Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma. Subramaniam recently announced that 2,000 doctors, 6,000 staff nurses and 2,000 technicians would be recruited. Efforts to augment manpower should be made on a war footing, a section of government doctors said.