Chandigarh, Feb. 23 -- In a week's time, the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research plans to start the long-awaited dedicated emergency facility at its Advanced Cardiac Centre (ACC). However, the prevailing staffing crisis has left the employees feeling the pressure.

Running emergency services 24x7 would require additional staff, coordination among multiple departments, but the 210-bed centre has been grappling with a severe shortage of employees.

The centre comprises three departments - with cardiology, the biggest one - followed by cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, and the newly created cardiac anaesthesia and intensive care. But the cardiology department is reeling under shortage of nursing staff, with 42% posts...