Nationwide doctor shortage hampers prompt health services
In a viral video circulating on the social media platform, a man complained and shot a short video clip claiming and showing patients waiting at the hospital’s lobby on September 27, at Tsirang Hospital. He said, “It’s almost noon but the Doctor is not showing up yet. And people have been waiting.”
According to Tsirang Dzongrab, Karma Dorji, the Dzongkhag administration immediately asked for justification and clarification from the hospital management team after the viral video clip caught his attention.
He said, “As per the justification provided by the Dzongkhag Health Officer (DHO), on that day, only one physician was juggling medical duties The hospital management also claimed that it was between 10-11 am when the lone physician on duty couldn’t attend the outpatients, unlike in what’s mentioned in the video clip.”
Gang Dorji, the senior DHO said that the issue has been sorted out the next day and the management has figured out an alternative way to address the issue. The delayed service to the outpatients on the day resulted as two of Tsirang hospital’s physicians were out of the station for some mandatory training.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tshering Penjor was at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) in Thimphu. He said, “I am the national referral hospital for hospital management training conducted by the RCSC. And it’s disheartening that it created a buzz in my absence at Tsirang hospital.” The CMO was attending two days of training from September 28-29.
Sonam Phuntsho, another physician at the Tsirang hospital was engaged at Punakha with the surveillance training when the viral video clip surfaced.
However, Tsirang Dzonrab claimed that the hospital didn’t have such an issue so far and there are adequate physicians to meet the medical attention required at the Dzongkhag.
On that day, Dr. Dendup, the only physician at the hospital, turned up late to attend to the outpatients waiting impatiently because he was attending the inpatients in the general ward and the emergency ward. Tsirang hospital has a 40-bedded inpatient ward and an additional 10-bedded emergency ward.
“Understandably, one physician couldn’t serve the patients immediately because Dr. Dendup was doing a medical check-up round starting at 9 in the morning,” said the DHO.
Normally, three doctors; a specialized surgeon, a gynecologist, and a general duties medical officer (GDMO) attend OPD and run the health center seamlessly along with an anesthesiologist at Tsirang hospital.
In absence of Tsirang’s two doctors, Dr. Tenzin, an anesthesiologist took over the OPD as an immediate measure, the next day, for one day until Dr. Sonam Phuntsho returned to the station. Gang Dorji said, “Dr. Tenzin who is now a specialized anesthesiologist is as good as or even better in position to look into OPD matters as he served as GDMO earlier before specializing his career path.”
The DHO also added that it’s just a one-day issue that brought Tsirang hospital to red light. Moreover, Tsirang’s anesthesiologist is usually busy during operation day. He could attend the outpatient department whenever there’s no operation scheduled.
Some of the outraged Tsirang residents claimed that such problems occur from time to time at Tsirang hospital. A patient said, “It’s not the first case of doctors giving delayed medical attention. It happened on several occasions although someone posted the video clip for the first time. Concerned authorities need to address the issue for timely medical services.”
DHO Gang claimed that the people don’t understand the ground realities of medical staff working tirelessly at the hospital. Tsirang hospital also has 32 nurses to provide the required services along with some medical students from Apollo Bhutan Institute of Nursing attached as interns. Yet, the hospital is overwhelmed with increasing patients visiting the hospital from the nearby Dzongkhags. “Since Tsirang provides specialized health services, people from Dagana and Sarpang also visit the hospital. The patient load has increased,” added Gang Dorji.
He also added, “Especially when the doctors are sick or on leave, it’s hectic for the remaining physicians and staff to provide expected services at times.”
The DHO also claimed that Tsirang hospital is a comfortable state with three physicians present to offer medical help although as per the hospital’s required service standard, the number of doctors is not adequate. DHO said, “As per the service standard, we requested for seven doctors but three of them are trying their best to pull it off as the health ministry claimed that there’s insufficient health personnel in the pool.”
The DHO also requested the people to consult the medical staff whenever such an issue prevails instead of posing it online. “People should know that the reality is different and what can we do when there are inadequate physicians with the ministry as many are on study leave.”
“Those citizens who did doctor’s courses under the government’s fund also partly need to play their role as a responsible citizen to the country, to return and be a part of nation-wide doctor shortage solution,” said the DHO.
In a viral video circulating on the social media platform, a man complained and shot a short video clip claiming and showing patients waiting at the hospital’s lobby on September 27, at Tsirang Hospital. He said, “It’s almost noon but the Doctor is not showing up yet. And people have been waiting.”
According to Tsirang Dzongrab, Karma Dorji, the Dzongkhag administration immediately asked for justification and clarification from the hospital management team after the viral video clip caught his attention.
He said, “As per the justification provided by the Dzongkhag Health Officer (DHO), on that day, only one physician was juggling medical duties The hospital management also claimed that it was between 10-11 am when the lone physician on duty couldn’t attend the outpatients, unlike in what’s mentioned in the video clip.”
Gang Dorji, the senior DHO said that the issue has been sorted out the next day and the management has figured out an alternative way to address the issue. The delayed service to the outpatients on the day resulted as two of Tsirang hospital’s physicians were out of the station for some mandatory training.
The Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Tshering Penjor was at Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital (JDWNRH) in Thimphu. He said, “I am the national referral hospital for hospital management training conducted by the RCSC. And it’s disheartening that it created a buzz in my absence at Tsirang hospital.” The CMO was attending two days of training from September 28-29.
Sonam Phuntsho, another physician at the Tsirang hospital was engaged at Punakha with the surveillance training when the viral video clip surfaced.
However, Tsirang Dzonrab claimed that the hospital didn’t have such an issue so far and there are adequate physicians to meet the medical attention required at the Dzongkhag.
On that day, Dr. Dendup, the only physician at the hospital, turned up late to attend to the outpatients waiting impatiently because he was attending the inpatients in the general ward and the emergency ward. Tsirang hospital has a 40-bedded inpatient ward and an additional 10-bedded emergency ward.
“Understandably, one physician couldn’t serve the patients immediately because Dr. Dendup was doing a medical check-up round starting at 9 in the morning,” said the DHO.
Normally, three doctors; a specialized surgeon, a gynecologist, and a general duties medical officer (GDMO) attend OPD and run the health center seamlessly along with an anesthesiologist at Tsirang hospital.
In absence of Tsirang’s two doctors, Dr. Tenzin, an anesthesiologist took over the OPD as an immediate measure, the next day, for one day until Dr. Sonam Phuntsho returned to the station. Gang Dorji said, “Dr. Tenzin who is now a specialized anesthesiologist is as good as or even better in position to look into OPD matters as he served as GDMO earlier before specializing his career path.”
The DHO also added that it’s just a one-day issue that brought Tsirang hospital to red light. Moreover, Tsirang’s anesthesiologist is usually busy during operation day. He could attend the outpatient department whenever there’s no operation scheduled.
Some of the outraged Tsirang residents claimed that such problems occur from time to time at Tsirang hospital. A patient said, “It’s not the first case of doctors giving delayed medical attention. It happened on several occasions although someone posted the video clip for the first time. Concerned authorities need to address the issue for timely medical services.”
DHO Gang claimed that the people don’t understand the ground realities of medical staff working tirelessly at the hospital. Tsirang hospital also has 32 nurses to provide the required services along with some medical students from Apollo Bhutan Institute of Nursing attached as interns. Yet, the hospital is overwhelmed with increasing patients visiting the hospital from the nearby Dzongkhags. “Since Tsirang provides specialized health services, people from Dagana and Sarpang also visit the hospital. The patient load has increased,” added Gang Dorji.
He also added, “Especially when the doctors are sick or on leave, it’s hectic for the remaining physicians and staff to provide expected services at times.”
The DHO also claimed that Tsirang hospital is a comfortable state with three physicians present to offer medical help although as per the hospital’s required service standard, the number of doctors is not adequate. DHO said, “As per the service standard, we requested for seven doctors but three of them are trying their best to pull it off as the health ministry claimed that there’s insufficient health personnel in the pool.”
The DHO also requested the people to consult the medical staff whenever such an issue prevails instead of posing it online. “People should know that the reality is different and what can we do when there are inadequate physicians with the ministry as many are on study leave.”
“Those citizens who did doctor’s courses under the government’s fund also partly need to play their role as a responsible citizen to the country, to return and be a part of nation-wide doctor shortage solution,” said the DHO.
