In a move that has triggered outrage across the remote tribal Pangi valley, the Himachal Pradesh Government has once again withdrawn the posting of a specialist doctor to the Killar Civil Hospital within days of issuing the order, exposing the fragile state of healthcare services in one of the state’s most inaccessible regions.
The Health Department had issued an order on April 28 posting Dr Avinash Dhiman, a Medical Officer specialising in anaesthesia, to the Killar Civil Hospital in Chamba district following directions from the High Court. For residents of the isolated valley, the decision had rekindled hope of improved healthcare in an area where medical emergencies frequently become life-threatening due to the absence of specialists and poor connectivity.
However, that hope was short-lived. On May 4, the department issued another notification adjusting the doctor to Hamirpur district, effectively cancelling his posting to Killar before he could join.
The abrupt reversal has intensified resentment among residents who accuse the government of making repeated promises on paper while failing to strengthen healthcare services on the ground.
The Killar Civil Hospital caters to nearly 25,000 residents scattered across one of Himachal Pradesh’s harshest and most cut-off terrains. Yet, the hospital is functioning with just one specialist doctor, a surgeon, who is virtually running the institution alone. Out of 12 sanctioned doctor posts, six remain vacant. Besides the lone specialist surgeon, only four MBBS doctors are available to manage the healthcare burden of the valley.
The shortage has forced the lone specialist surgeon, Dr Vishal Sharma, to perform multiple responsibilities simultaneously, often functioning not only as a surgeon but also as an anaesthesiologist, radiologist and even a gynaecologist during emergencies.
In serious cases, patients are routinely referred outside the valley through dangerous mountain roads. The crisis worsens during winters when heavy snowfall at Sach Pass disconnects Pangi from the rest of the state for months, leaving critically ill patients dependent on weather conditions and limited evacuation options.
Local residents say such reversals are not new. Trilok Thakur, chairman of Pangwal Ekta Manch, said posting orders for ENT, Orthopaedics and Anaesthesia specialists had been issued earlier as well, but none ultimately joined the hospital.
Adding to the crisis, the key post of Block Medical Officer continues to remain vacant, forcing the lone surgeon to handle administrative duties alongside medical emergencies. Cut off for months every year and battling years of neglect, Pangi remains among Himachal Pradesh’s most medically vulnerable regions where delays in treatment often carry devastating consequences.
Valley waiting for doctors
- The withdrawal of the anaesthesia specialist’s posting has once again highlighted the healthcare vacuum in tribal Pangi valley. The Killar Civil Hospital, serving nearly 25,000 people, is functioning with only one specialist surgeon and four MBBS doctors against 12 sanctioned posts
- Residents say repeated government claims of strengthening healthcare in tribal areas have failed to translate into reality. During winters, heavy snowfall cuts off the valley for months, making emergency referrals extremely risky
- Locals allege that specialists in ENT, orthopaedics and anaesthesia were posted earlier too, but none ultimately joined, leaving the region trapped in chronic medical uncertainty
