Departments outsourced, collaborations underway to tackle budget constraints
Pune– The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Cantonment General Hospital, a 97-year-old healthcare facility in Pune, has made significant strides in upgrading its services, transforming from a basic outpatient department (OPD) to a centre offering specialty and critical care. However, a persistent shortage of permanent medical staff and limited financial resources continue to hinder operations.
Key Departments Outsourced Amid Staff Crunch
Despite infrastructure improvements, nearly half of the hospital’s sanctioned doctor positions remain unfilled. Out of 13 permanent doctor posts, six are currently vacant, forcing the hospital to outsource critical departments such as the intensive care unit (ICU), dialysis centre, cath lab, and diagnostic laboratory to private service providers.
With limited internal capacity, the hospital has also hired eight specialists on a contractual basis and continues to refer patients requiring MRI and CT scans to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Yerawada.
Seeking Support from Medical Institutions
Faced with a budget deficit, the Pune Cantonment Board has begun forging partnerships with local medical institutions to fill staffing gaps. One such collaboration involves specialists from the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), who currently assist the hospital’s gynaecology department and are soon expected to extend their services to the surgery department through a formal MoU.
“We are also trying to engage healthcare professionals from St Andrews College of Nursing and physiotherapists from M A Rangoonwala College of Physiotherapy,” said Dr Usha Tapase, Resident Medical Officer (RMO) of the hospital.
Service Delivery Continues Despite Constraints
Despite these challenges, the hospital has managed to maintain steady healthcare delivery. Over the past two years, it has conducted nearly 2,000 surgeries. The OPD sees around 300–400 patients daily, while the hospital’s four health and wellness centres in Wanowrie, Ghorpadi, Boottee Street, and Shivaji Market support its reach.
The 120-bed hospital handles an average of 8,500 OPD cases and performs about 45 deliveries and 90 surgeries each month. Last year, 212 angioplasties and 375 angiographies were conducted at the cath lab, while the ICU recorded 622 admissions and the dialysis unit treated 4,683 patients.
