Hundreds of patients in the Palampur and Sullah Assembly constituencies of Kangra district are facing serious inconvenience because four government hospitals have been without radiologists for several months. The hospitals at Palampur, Bhawarna, Dheera and Thural are all affected by this shortage.
Ultrasound Services Halted at Government Hospitals
The absence of radiologists has brought ultrasound services to a near standstill. According to The Tribune, ultrasound machines at these hospitals are now lying idle because there is no trained professional to operate them and interpret the results.
This situation directly affects the most vulnerable patients. Expectant mothers need regular ultrasound scans to monitor the health of their unborn babies. Senior citizens and patients suffering from abdominal, kidney and liver ailments also depend on these diagnostic services to manage their conditions effectively.
Patients Forced to Travel for Diagnostic Tests
With local services unavailable, patients have no choice but to seek help elsewhere. They must now travel to private hospitals or to Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College in Tanda for their diagnostic tests. This creates two major problems for patients and their families.
First, there is the additional financial burden. Private hospitals charge more than government facilities, and even travelling to Tanda involves transport costs that many families struggle to afford. Second, there is a delay in treatment. When patients have to travel long distances just for a basic scan, their overall treatment gets pushed back, which can worsen their condition.
The situation is even harder for people living in remote areas of the Sullah Assembly constituency. According to The Tribune, these residents have to travel around 55 km to reach Tanda medical college for treatment and diagnostic tests. For sick patients, especially the elderly and pregnant women, such a long journey is not just inconvenient — it can be dangerous.
Impact on Rural Healthcare in Kangra District
This shortage highlights a deeper problem in rural healthcare. Government hospitals are supposed to be the first point of care for people in smaller towns and villages. When essential services like radiology are unavailable, the entire system fails the people it is meant to serve.
The fact that ultrasound machines are sitting idle while patients suffer is a clear sign of poor resource management. The equipment is there, but without the right staff to run it, it is useless. This is not just a staffing issue — it is a failure to deliver basic healthcare to people who depend on government facilities.
"Expectant mothers, senior citizens and patients of abdominal, kidney and liver ailments have to travel to private hospitals or Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Tanda, for diagnostic tests, resulting in additional financial burden and delay in treatment." — The Tribune
Our Take: Government Must Act Quickly to Fill Radiologist Vacancies
To put it plainly, this situation is unacceptable. Patients in Palampur and Sullah have been struggling for months, and there is no sign that the problem is being fixed. The health department must treat this as an emergency and fill the radiologist vacancies immediately.
In our view, the government also needs to look at why such shortages keep happening in rural hospitals. It is not enough to post doctors to these areas — the administration must ensure that all essential staff positions are filled and that equipment is actually being used. Every month without a radiologist means more patients delaying critical tests, more pregnancies going unmonitored, and more people spending money they do not have on private care.
The people of Kangra district deserve better. They should not have to travel 55 km for a basic ultrasound scan. The authorities must act now, before more patients are left in the lurch.