Sishu Bhavan in Cuttack. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, Jan.13: Divakar Sahoo, who had come all the way from Bhadrak district, had to wait for four hours to have his son treated at Sishu Bhavan, the only referral centre for children in eastern India.

An acute shortage of staff, especially paediatricians, is plaguing Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post-graduate Institute of Paediatrics, which is popularly known as Sishu Bhavan.

The famous institute is struggling to function because of an insufficient number of assistant professors of paediatrics, which is making life difficult for other medical staff.

Against the sanctioned strength of 39 (Groups A and B), there are only 23 doctors, while 16 posts lie vacant. Fewer doctors means it’s more difficult to treat patients, most of whom are newborn babies.

“This shortage of doctors is a big problem. It’s post-graduate students who have been affected the most, as they have to work overtime and have little time to study,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity.

The institute is also struggling to take care of the pre- and post-medical care needs of the patients, as there is also shortage of nurses (regular and contractual).

People from across the state come for neo-natal treatment to Sishu Bhavan, which is the only referral centre for children in eastern India.

“We have to wait for hours to get medical attention. It is very hard for people like us who come from a long distance for the treatment of our children,” said Divakar Sahoo.

Of the sanctioned strength of 149 posts, 19 lie vacant in the Group C category, which includes nurses. Similarly, there are 17 vacancies in Group D, which includes peons, attendants, sweepers and others.

A relative of another patient, Satyakam Sahoo, said: “We come here in the hope of getting timely treatment here at Sishu Bhavan. But there seems to be shortage of doctors and other medical staff and so we have to wait for hours to receive medical attention.”

Contacted, the institute’s administrative officer, Satyabrata Rout, said: “The post of assistant professors is usually filled through the Orissa Public Service Commission (OPSC). The OPSC has already issued notification through advertisements and the recruitment process is on.”

Sources say strict Medical Council of India (MCI) guideline that only senior residents with three years of experience shall be eligible for the post of assistant professors is delaying the recruitment process.

Earlier, senior residents used to be recruited directly after completion of the post-graduate degree.

“Things will return to normal once the recruitment is over. We have informed the officials of the health department (about the situation at the institute) and the state government is taking measures to resolve the issue,” Rout added.