Public Hospitals: Health Records Clerks at Their Wits' End

Public hospitals are facing chronic understaffing, overdue overtime payments, and temporary department closures, raising alarms among Health Records Clerks. Following the complaints from doctors and nurses, these essential staff members are now voicing their frustrations.

"We work tirelessly, but we’re barely managing," said several Health Records Clerks from various hospitals across the island, encapsulating the distress in their profession. Tasked with issuing patient cards, organizing files, and scheduling appointments, they are on the front lines of an overstretched healthcare system.

The numbers tell the story. At the busiest hospitals, Dr. A. G. Jeetoo and Victoria, the department is operating with nearly 50% fewer staff. "Out of the 115 personnel we should have, we only have 65," a supervisor reported. The direct consequence is that those still employed are performing the duties of two, if not three, people, leading to fatigue, frustration, demotivation, burnout, and increased absenteeism.

In hospitals where staff are not directly attached to doctors, the situation is even more dire. Some departments have temporarily closed as personnel are reassigned to other roles. The appointment desk for patients without assigned doctors is among the most affected. "After treatment, some patients need follow-up appointments. These are scheduled during evening shifts," explains a clerk. Consequently, patients must return to the hospital the next day to collect their cards and learn their next appointment dates. "We are working with a reduced team, and we have no other options."

Unpaid Overtime

While understaffing is a chronic issue, it is the unpaid overtime that has finally shattered staff motivation. "Our system relies heavily on overtime because of the 50% staff shortage," one employee explained. These extra hours, which once helped staff catch up on workloads and boost their income, have lost their appeal due to delayed payments, with some owed since August of last year.

Questioned about the issue in the National Assembly on April 7 by MP Sandeep Prayag, Health Minister Anil Bachoo provided no deadlines for addressing the unpaid wages. He stated that payments would be made "as savings can be identified" in the current financial year. The health department is collaborating closely with the finance ministry for fund reallocations from savings found in other budget lines. This response hardly reassures the affected individuals, who believe the payment delays have become systemic.

Faced with this situation, many clerks are reportedly seeking part-time jobs to supplement their income instead of relying on uncertain overtime payments. "Overtime is not mandatory, but optional," they remind us. They were once willing to work extra hours to increase their earnings, but now prefer to spend more time with their families rather than sacrifice themselves "needlessly". With the 2026-2027 budget approaching, there is hope that the overdue payments will finally be made, but trust has been eroded.

New Services

In this context, the upcoming inauguration of the Renal Transplant Unit at Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital on April 10 raises questions among the staff. "In an already difficult situation, how will this work with new services being introduced?" Minister Anil Bachoo has recently stated that he cannot halt the development and addition of new services to the healthcare system despite the staffing shortages. However, the staff does not share his viewpoint. They believe it is merely "robbing Peter to pay Paul".

One Health Records Clerk also points out a logistical issue with the new healthcare facilities. While they are indeed more spacious and modern, these buildings require staff to travel longer distances, going up and down multiple floors to move between departments, which delays service and prolongs patient wait times. "It’s a struggle every day," she summarizes. When patients become impatient, she has no choice but to endure while explaining that the staffing shortage is to blame.

Recruitment of Health Records Clerks

The health ministry has recently issued a call for applications to recruit new Health Records Clerks (HRCs). However, some staff remain skeptical due to the ministry's challenging financial situation. They question whether a budget exists to cover the salaries of these new recruits. Their skepticism is further fueled by the proposed salary conditions: according to the announcement, "the monthly salary is set at Rs 26,645, with a scale going up to Rs 49,000. However, for 2026, the starting salary is Rs 24,815, under a reduced entry salary mechanism." Similar to the nursing staff's experience, current HRCs believe there will likely be little interest in this position.