Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, May 14: The Government Medical College (GMC) Udhampur, a key healthcare institution in Jammu and Kashmir, continues to face challenges due to staff shortages and infrastructural deficiencies.
A Right to Information (RTI) filed by activist M M Shuja reveals that approximately 473 posts, including 20 professor positions, remain vacant at the hospital.
This information reveals that out of the sanctioned posts, only four of the 20 professor positions are filled, with 16 vacant. Among the 34 associate professor posts, three are occupied while 31 remain vacant; out of 52 assistant professors, 36 are in position and 16 are vacant.
The staffing situation extends to senior residents, where 32 are in position while 52 posts remain vacant, and among junior residents, 46 are in position with 17 vacant. For medical officers, only three of the 14 posts are filled, leaving 11 vacant. There are 326 vacant posts for paramedics.
Despite functioning for nearly two years, GMC Udhampur still lacks an MRI facility, a crucial diagnostic tool for numerous medical conditions. Patients requiring MRI scans are often referred to private centres or hospitals in Jammu, causing inconvenience, treatment delays, and additional financial burdens on patients, the RTI reveals.
On a positive note, the hospital has made some progress under the Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) scheme. Over the past two years, approximately 10,000 patients have benefited from cashless treatment under this scheme, providing some relief to economically weaker sections of society. However, the absence of specialised diagnostic services like MRI continues to restrict the scope of medical care available at GMC Udhampur.
Locals have urged the government to urgently address the staffing shortages and upgrade diagnostic facilities to enable GMC Udhampur to function as a fully equipped tertiary care centre, to ensure better healthcare services for the region.
