Patiala, March 4 -- Punjab is grappling with an acute shortage of regular radiologists, severely affecting diagnostic services in government health institutions across the state. A recent manpower analysis conducted by the health department has revealed that a majority of district hospitals are functioning either without a radiologist or with just one specialist. District hospitals in Patiala, Sangrur, Muktsar, Hoshiarpur, Moga, Tarn Taran, Rupnagar, Bathinda, Faridkot and Fazilka do not have a regular radiologist. In the absence of specialists, patients are either forced to approach private radio-diagnostic centres or wait for months to get essential tests conducted. A recent government feedback survey had also highlighted gaps in in-house diagnostic services at district hospitals (DHs) and sub-divisional hospitals (SDHs). According to the data, 37% of patients at district hospitals did not receive in-house ultrasound services. The figure rises to 52% at sub-divisional hospitals. CT scan services are also affected in several facilities. In many district hospitals, authorities have empanelled private radiologists who visit for a few hours to conduct diagnostic tests, mainly for pregnant women and emergency cases. In some places, sonographers - technicians trained in conducting ultrasounds - are managing the workload in the absence of full-time radiologists. A civil surgeon, requesting anonymity, said, "We have not had a regular radiologist in our district hospital for a long time. We have informed the higher authorities about the shortage, but there has been no concrete solution so far." Admitting the shortage in the government sector, health minister Dr Balbir Singh recently said that the problem is not limited to Punjab. "There is a shortage of radiologists across the country. The private sector offers more attractive salaries, which draws specialists away from government service. We offer around Rs.1.25 lakh per month, while private centres and hospitals offer between Rs.3-4 lakh," he said. To address the shortfall, private diagnostic labs have been allowed to function within the premises of several district hospitals across the state. Additionally, the health department has launched a scheme to empanel private medical specialists, including radiologists, for district hospitals. A senior health department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, "We have initiated the empanelment process for private specialists. Many district hospitals have already empanelled radiologists, and a few have joined duty." Dr Akhil Sarin, state president, Punjab civil medical services association, said, "Ensuring a regular hiring cycle for specialists (radiologists), coupled with incentives beyond the set benchmarks, could well serve as a much-needed pull factor to attract/retain the radiologists. Concurrently, the government should mull bringing back the concept of 60% in-service quota, with earmarked radiology seats, for all those doctors who are willing to serve under a 10-year bond period."...