A recent disclosure through a series of Right to Information (RTI) queries has revealed that 527 positions remain unfilled at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) in Madurai. These positions include roles for 152 nursing assistants, 165 health workers and 93 hospital workers.
The vacancies, uncovered by social activists, highlight a significant staffing shortfall at one of southern Tamil Nadu’s largest medical facilities.
The RTI data indicates that while approximately 200 nursing-assistant positions were sanctioned on a contract basis at GRH, 152 of these roles remain vacant. Similarly, of the sanctioned 227 hospital worker and 175 sanitary worker positions, 93 and 165 vacancies persist, respectively, creating additional strain on the current staff.
The vacancies are placing considerable pressure on the existing workforce, particularly in a facility that handles thousands of patients daily. If these positions were filled, the hospital would be better equipped to manage the over 4,300 beds it currently oversees. However, staffing remains well below the standards recommended by the Medical Council of India (MCI), which suggests one nurse for every two beds in ICUs and one nurse for every eight beds in regular wards.
GRH is a crucial healthcare provider in the region, and the unfilled positions could exacerbate the workload for doctors, nurses and nursing assistants.
The ongoing vacancies at GRH underscore the urgent need for action to ensure that patients, particularly those with limited healthcare options, receive the care they need without undue delay.
