India’s public healthcare system is running on empty, and it’s starting to show. Just take a good look at what’s happening in Pune and Haryana healthcare system. Hospitals are short on doctors and support staff, and people are paying the price—waiting longer, missing out on care, and running into the same old problems that never seem to get fixed.
Pune’s Sassoon General Hospital is a good example. It’s huge, busy, and right now, missing super-specialist doctors in critical departments—neurology, nephrology, gastroenterology, and intensive care don’t have a single specialist on duty. RTI data puts the problem in black and white: more than 100 doctor jobs are sitting empty, and nearly half of the support staff positions aren’t filled. The Pune Municipal Corporation is no better off. Three out of four specialist doctor’s posts at city hospitals are vacant, and in some places, a third of the beds cannot be used because there’s nobody to staff them.
Leaders are rushing to find solutions. They’re considering about bouncing up salaries, hiring on contract, and bringing in visiting specialists. But right now, the gaps are real, and they’re hurting patients.
Haryana also has similar case story, just a different location. All over in the Haryana state, several public hospitals, community health centres, and primary care clinics all need doctors. The governments finally launched a drive to hire 450 to 500 new doctors and specialists. It’s overdue. They’re losing people because of low pay, tough jobs, and few chances to grow. Even the Health Minister has started making surprise visits, trying to light a fire under the hiring process.
Why is this issue critical?
For one, patients are stuck waiting or forced to shell out for private care. The doctors and nurses who are still working are strained thin and burning out.
Poor and vulnerable people?
They’re the first to lose access when the system breaks down. And a lot of expensive equipment and hospital beds just collect dust because there’s nobody to use them.
So, what actually helps?
Experts say faster, more open recruitment makes a difference. Better pay, especially for rural jobs, helps keep people around. Bringing in specialist doctors for short stints, using telemedicine to connect with big hospitals, and offering clear career growth and real benefits—all of that goes a long way.
Pune and Haryana aren’t outliers—they’re warning signs. India’s public hospitals need more than just buildings and equipment. They need enough doctors and staff who want to stay and do the work. Fixing these shortages with smarter pay, better hiring, and real support isn’t just important—it’s the only way forward if we want a healthcare system that actually works for everyone.