Nearly 16,000 posts vacant in J&K’s Health department: Sakeena Itoo

Jammu, Mar 24: Nearly 16,000 posts of doctors and paramedics are vacant in the Health Department in Jammu and Kashmir regions, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday.
Replying to a query of MLA Sham Lal Sharma, the Minister said, that there are 980 gazetted and 2937 non gazetted posts vacant at Directorate of Health Services Jammu while 420 gazetted and 1574 non gazetted posts are vacant at Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.
She said that there are 45 gazetted and 190 non-gazetted posts vacant in the Ayush while 305 gazetted and 1422 non gazetted posts are vacant in National Health Mission.
The total vacancies in both Directorates, Itoo said, are 7873 (seven thousand eight hundred and seventy three).
While giving details about the vacancies in Government Medical Colleges, Sakina said that there are 347 gazetted and 1984 non-gazetted posts vacant at GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals while 362 gazetted and 1392 non-gazetted posts are vacant at GMC Jammu and its associated hospitals.
She said that 91 gazetted and 283 non-gazetted posts are vacant at GMC Anantnag followed by 232 gazetted and 357 non-gazetted at GMC Baramulla, 154 gazetted and 225 non-gazetted at GMC Doda and 121 gazetted and 188 non-gazetted posts lying vacant at GMC Kathua.
Regarding GMC Rajouri, Itoo said that 173 gazetted and 232 non-gazetted are vacant, while 107 and 737 gazetted and non-gazetted are vacant at GMC Handwara and 210 gazetted and 545 non-gazetted posts are vacant at GMC Udhampur.
She further added that 65 gazetted and 274 non-gazetted posts are vacant from NHM side in these colleges.
So total vacancies in all medical colleges in J&K are 8079 taking the total vacant posts in the department to around 16,000 (sixteen thousand).
The Minister said that despite so many posts being vacant adequate staff is in place for smooth functioning of the hospitals/colleges and for ensuring proper patient care. “In order to address the shortage of staff and in the interest of patient care, vacant posts are filled on academic arrangement basis (as and when required) till posts of regular faculty/ doctors are filled up,” she said, adding, “The availability of staff is being supplemented through the National Health Mission (NHM) as well. In the month of November, 2024, 365 candidates were appointed as Medical Officers in the J&K Health and Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services and were posted in areas facing staff shortage.”
“There is adequate regular faculty in Government Medical Colleges of J&K. All the vacant entry-level posts of GMCs stand referred to JKPSC for advertisement and selection of suitable candidates. However, until regular arrangements are made by way of selections from JKPSC and by way of promotions by JKPSC/DPC, the posts are filled on an academic arrangement basis in terms of SO 364 of 2020 dated 27.11.2020, in the interest of patient care and other academic activities. Besides, Medical Colleges are supposed to maintain a required level of faculty at each level so as to meet the requirements of the National Medical Commission, who regularly inspect these Institutions,” Itoo said. (KNO)