Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Dec 30: The Jammu and Kashmir Government is mulling to extend the contract of staff hired for Covid care services presently working in associated hospitals of GMC Srinagar and Jammu.
A health official said that during peak second wave of Covid-19, in order to make two 500 bedded Defence Research & Development Organisation (DRDO) Covid-19 Hospitals functional in Jammu and Srinagar the government on had sanctioned the creation of 1366 posts for 3 years.
He said that the posts were created for a period of three years, however, authorities directed concerned officials that the posts shall be filled up, initially for a period of one year which was later extended by six more months and their contract is coming to an end on 31 December 2022.
He said that even GMC Jammu has written to Administrative Secretary health and Medical education that the contractual staff already engaged and presently working in GMC & Associated Hospitals, Jammu are highly trained to manage the COVID- 19 cases and they have already successfully dealt with the effective management of the COVID-19 during the 2 wave of COVID-19 pandemic and this staff is urgently required to given extension for another period of one and half year(as their present contract is ending on 31-12-2022) in view of the emerging scenario of COVID-19 in the UT of J&K.
“Since the existing staff in the Govt. Medical College and its Associated Hospitals, Jammu is not as per IPHS norms. So, there is already a scarcity of staff in Govt. Medical College and its Associated Hospitals, Jammu,” another official said.
“It would not be out of place to mention here that services of the staff which were recruited for DRDO Hospital during the year 2021-22, are presently being utilized in Maternity Hospital, Gandhi Nagar and New Emergency, GMCH Jammu for better management of patient care,” he said.
“It is further submitted that patient load has increased manifold in Govt. Medical College and its Associated Hospitals, Jammu and new posts have not been created proportionately,” he said.
The staff hired for DRDO Srinagar who are presently working in different GMC associated hospitals have also demanded extension in their contract.
Meanwhile, a top health official informed KNO that the Government is actively considering this issue in view of the surge in Covid-19 cases in different countries.
“Government is actively on it and it is likely that their contract will be extended, however, the final decision is to be taken by higher ups,” he said.
Whatever decision will be it will be for both GMC Srinagar and GMC Jammu and Government is actively monitoring the Covid-19 and call on the issue is expected in next few days, he said.
