Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
Uttarakhand’s healthcare infrastructure is facing questions over a severe shortage of specialist doctors, even as the state investigates suspected irregularities in MBBS admissions.
RTI data obtained from the Health Department shows that more than 52,000 patients were referred to higher medical centres because the required facilities were unavailable at government hospitals.
According to responses to RTI applications dated September 26 and September 30, 2026, 52,942 patients were referred to higher medical centres due to the unavailability of required medical facilities.
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The RTI information, obtained by Haridwar-based National Public Trust, also revealed a major shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals. Of 840 sanctioned specialist posts across community health centres (CHCs), district hospitals and sub-district hospitals, only 295 doctors are currently working.
This leaves 545 specialist posts vacant across the state.
86% SPECIALIST POSTS VACANT AT CHCS
The shortage is particularly acute at the CHC level. Across 80 community health centres, 401 specialist posts have been sanctioned, but only 55 doctors are currently working. As many as 346 posts, or nearly 86%, remain vacant.
The shortage extends across critical medical specialties. Of the 81 sanctioned physician posts at these CHCs, only nine are occupied. Similarly, only nine anaesthetists are working against 80 sanctioned posts, while 11 surgeons are available against 80 posts.
District hospitals have 182 sanctioned specialist posts, of which 65 are vacant. At sub-district hospitals, 134 of 257 sanctioned posts remain vacant.
HIGH VACANCY RATES IN HILLY DISTRICTS
The district-wise figures show significant shortages across Uttarakhand. Uttarkashi has 32 vacancies among 41 sanctioned posts, a vacancy rate of 78%. Almora has 68 vacancies out of 89 posts, or 76.4%, while Pauri Garhwal has 81 vacancies among 109 posts, or 74.3%.
Bageshwar has 20 vacancies among 27 sanctioned posts, while Tehri Garhwal has 58 vacancies among 79 posts. Haridwar has 56 vacancies among 78 posts.
Dehradun has the lowest vacancy rate among the districts listed, with 19 of 86 specialist posts vacant, or 22.1%.
‘ARE GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS BECOMING REFERRAL CENTRES?’
National Public Trust president Krishnakant told Aaj Tak that the shortage raises questions about the ability of government hospitals to treat critical patients, pregnant women and those requiring surgeries.
“When nearly 86% of specialist posts are vacant across 80 CHCs, how will critical patients, pregnant women and those requiring surgery receive treatment?” he said.
Krishnakant also said patients in mountainous areas may have to travel 100-200 km or more after being referred to higher medical centres. He demanded a time-bound plan to fill the 545 vacant specialist posts and immediate deployment of doctors, particularly in rural and hilly areas.
MBBS ADMISSION PROBE ADDS TO CONCERNS
The healthcare concerns come amid an ongoing investigation into complaints of irregularities in Uttarakhand’s NEET-UG 2026 state counselling process.
Complaints have been raised over the use of purportedly fake permanent residence, caste, EWS, OBC, SC, orphan and freedom-fighter dependent certificates to secure MBBS admissions.
So far, 19 MBBS admissions have been cancelled, while questions have been raised over more than 400 certificates. The Special Investigation Team has arrested five people in connection with the case, while two revenue sub-inspectors have also been suspended.
QUESTIONS OVER LOCAL MEDICAL SEATS
The admission controversy has also raised questions over the impact on eligible candidates from Uttarakhand.
If candidates who did not meet the state’s eligibility criteria secured limited MBBS seats using invalid documents, questions remain over whether eligible local applicants were deprived of those seats.
The doctor shortage has further added to the concerns, with the RTI figures showing that hundreds of specialist positions remain vacant and tens of thousands of patients have been referred to higher centres because of gaps in available healthcare facilities.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
