Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 7: Among the 118 sanctioned positions for teaching faculty, Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), and Lady Medical Officers (LMOs) at Government Medical College (GMC) Kathua, only 70 are currently filled, leaving 48 positions vacant, Health Minister Sakeena Itoo said on Friday.
Responding to a question from MLA Dr Bharat Bhushan, Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo, said that at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital Kathua, 12 out of 14 sanctioned positions remain vacant. She assured that all vacant teaching faculty positions at GMC Kathua have been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission for advertisement and selection of suitable candidates.
The vacant posts are being filled regularly on an academic arrangement basis under SO 364 of 2020, dated 27.11.2020, to address the faculty shortage in each discipline, Itoo said.
Regarding the installation of MRI equipment, the minister said the department is currently exploring funding options to equip the hospital with MRI facilities.
Replying to a question from MLA Javid Riyaz about the re-establishment of the Gynaecology Unit at CHC Pattan, the Health Minister said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, CHC Pattan was designated as a Maternity and Child Hospital (Non-COVID) for district Baramulla. “During this period, adequate staff, including gynaecologists, anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, anaesthesia technicians, and staff nurses, were deputed from other medical blocks such as Sopore, Kreeri, Sheeri, and Tangmarg to decongest major healthcare centres and contain the spread of COVID-19,” she said.
Sakeena acknowledged that patient footfall in tertiary hospitals in the capital city had reduced during that period due to the temporary arrangements. However, re-establishing a full-fledged Gynaecology Unit at CHC Pattan would require the creation of additional infrastructure, manpower (including doctors and paramedical staff), and necessary logistical support such as medical equipment. She said the earlier arrangement during the COVID-19 crisis was a temporary measure, with staff being pooled from nearby medical blocks to contain the pandemic.
The minister said that while the establishment of a dedicated Gynaecology Unit at CHC Pattan is feasible, it would require the creation of new posts and infrastructure. “However, with austerity measures issued by the Finance Department currently in force, the government is focusing on consolidating existing healthcare facilities. J&K presently has around 4,000 healthcare institutions at various levels—primary, secondary, and tertiary,” she said.
The creation and upgradation of new units may be considered once the austerity measures outlined in Government Order No. 17-F of 2024, dated 15.01.2024, are lifted and critical gaps as per Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are assessed, the minister added.
