PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
A second cardiologist is set to assume charge on a contractual basis at Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital within 10 days. This decision comes in response to the shortage of cardiologists at GDMC Hospital, which has raised concerns among many patients. Many have reported having to revisit the hospital due to the unavailability of a cardiologist, due to the sole permanent cardiologist’s busy schedule in surgery or other duties, which creates difficulties for them.
Patient Veena Bajaj said that she frequently visits the Cardiology department and often has to return on a different day due to the absence of the current cardiologist. There is only one cardiologist appointed at the hospital, which complicates matters, as patients are reliant on just one doctor and must repeatedly visit the hospital if that doctor is unavailable. She urged the authorities to appoint more cardiologists to address this issue.
Another patient, Rahul Verma expressed similar concerns. He said that the high influx of patients with only one cardiologist available makes it difficult for patients to wait long periods, with some opting to return on another day. As this is a government hospital, he believed the authorities should take this matter seriously.
Many others have also voiced similar concerns regarding the lack of cardiologists.
Medical superintendent at GDMC Hospital Dr RS Bisht stated that the hospital administration has already acted. He confirmed that currently, only one cardiologist, Dr Amar Upadhyay serves as an associate professor in the Cardiology department. With this, one out of the four sanctioned posts for cardiologists is occupied, while three remain vacant. The hospital administration is working to fill these vacancies and they have appointed a second cardiologist on a contractual basis who is expected to join within the next 10 days. This addition is anticipated to alleviate some of the problems related to the shortage of cardiologists in the cardiology department, he said.
