Appointment of doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) can wait, not introduction of new departments.

The state health department introduced three new departments — paediatric surgery, urology and neonatology — last week. But they will take long to be completely functional in want of medics.

Through a notification issued last week, the government made paediatric surgery, urology and neonatology independent departments, taking total number of departments in the institution to 28.

New posts were sanctioned for the departments, but appointments were not made before carving out the super specialty wings.

While post of a professor, two associate professors, two assistant professors and two senior resident doctors were sanctioned for each department, they have five doctors in all. A doctor on deputation from the surgery department single-handedly runs the paediatric surgery department.

“Paediatric surgery was earlier a part of the surgery department. Even then, I had to shuffle between these two. Now, that the department has been made independent, there has not been any change in the situation. I have indoor and outdoor duties and feel overburdened all the time,” said Dr J.P. Gupta, associate professor in the surgery department.

The scene is no better in the neonatology department. There are just two doctors of assistant professor-rank. In the urology department, there are two assistant professors and a senior resident doctor.

PMCH principal Dr N.P. Yadav assured of putting things in place in three-four months.

“The sanctioned posts of doctors will be filled up soon. Necessary infrastructure will be put in place shortly to develop the branches as super specialty wings. In any new move, initial hiccups are normal. But we will sort out the issues soon,” he said.

The official added that once things are stable, these departments would offer PG courses if Medical Council of India permits.