Patna, Aug. 28: Flooded with applications, the authorities of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) are in a quandary over appointing health managers.

The PMCH had invited applications for the posts of six health managers December last year. After receiving 207 applications, the hospital authorities referred the matter to the State Health Society, which issued a fresh advertisement with more riders to reduce the number of applicants. But the outcome was just the opposite. Another 500 aspirants applied for the six posts.

With over 700 applications, the hospital authorities have decided to interview the most eligible candidates after scrutiny. It would take some time, though.

PMCH principal Dr N.P. Yadav told The Telegraph: “We had advertised for recruiting health managers in December last year. We received 207 applications. As we found ourselves in an indecisive state over whom to appoint, we referred the matter to the State Health Society. It issued a fresh advertisement adding a new clause that only those fluent in spoken and written English and Hindi would be eligible for the posts.”

Yadav said: “Over 500 more candidates applied. These applications were in addition to the 207 applications the college received earlier. With so many applications piled up, we are yet to filter them. It will take some time before we call the eligible candidates for interview.”

The principal said: “At present we have one health manager. The new health managers would be appointed in gynaecology, surgery, medicine, paediatrics, orthopaedic and emergency departments, which see huge rush of patients every day. The health managers will be responsible for the overall patient care and will report to the doctors or the head of the department concerned if they get any complaint from patients or their relatives.”

Sources said the decision to appoint health managers was taken to ensure better healthcare facilities to patients. They added that the responsibilities of the managers with MBA degree would include patient care, creating schedules and structuring the work environment.

Several attendants of the patients admitted in the hospital said it was disappointing that the college authorities were moving at snail’s pace on the issue of appointing health managers.

“It is ridiculous that the hospital administration invited applications for the posts of health managers without setting up a selection criteria. Even now they do not have a policy in place. We hope the services offered by the health managers would make the health hub comfortable for patients. At present, there is hardly anybody with whom we can register our complaints,” Subeer Sinha, who is looking after his ailing mother in the surgical ward, said.