Doctors’ shortage inherited, can’t be fixed overnight: Sakeena Itoo

Baramulla, Jul 9: Minister of Health & Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo on Wednesday said that the shortage of doctors in remote areas is a legacy issue, not a recent failure, saying that around 500 new appointments were made to bridge the gaps.
She said that the shortage of doctors is something we inherited. You can’t expect things to be fixed in one year when for six years there were no doctors, no medical staff and no proper infrastructure. These are problems that take time to resolve.”
She said that under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, the current administration has taken steps to address the crisis, particularly by strengthening human resources in the health sector. “We issued 309 appointment orders to degree-holders to serve in remote and underserved areas. Recently, another 111 appointments were made to further bridge the gap in healthcare delivery.”
On specialist recruitment, the Minister highlighted that consultant-level appointments through the Services Selection Board (SSB) have also progressed and efforts are underway to deploy them effectively.
However, Itoo admitted that despite upgrades in infrastructure, new post creations and essential facilities like equipment, medical assistants and support staff have lagged. “Buildings were constructed quickly, but they lack basic medical equipment and manpower. We need to consolidate these efforts now.”
She appealed to all stakeholders to work together for systemic improvement. “We need support from everyone — the media, the public and all departments, to strengthen healthcare delivery. The administration remains committed to bringing lasting change,” she added.
Regarding GMC Baramulla, the Minister said that the government is committed to strengthening healthcare infrastructure. She highlighted that important requirements, such as a Cath Lab, MRI facility and other critical equipment, have already been sanctioned through budget allocations supported by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in the assembly. “These provisions are being made to ensure that patients with heart-related issues or those requiring MRI scans receive timely treatment right here,” she said.
She acknowledged that while gaps remain, significant progress has been made over time. “Since this government took over, appointment orders for 500 new doctors have been issued, especially for deployment in far-flung areas,” she stated, underlining the administration’s focus on rural healthcare delivery.
Reflecting on past inefficiencies, Itoo said that poor governance over the last 8–9 years had led to a breakdown in work culture, with some doctors skipping duty to run private clinics. “That has changed now. Accountability has improved and patient care is gradually being restored,” she asserted.
“While challenges remain, we are working to improve things step by step,” she added.
Responding to concerns raised by journalists over selective media access during high-profile government visits, she said that such exclusions are unfair and should be addressed with consistency and transparency.
She acknowledged the vital role media plays in conveying both the government’s challenges and achievements to the public. “If government issues and achievements don’t reach the people, it becomes difficult for them to understand what the administration is doing,” she said.
The Minister, however, said that sometimes meetings include discussions that are not meant for public dissemination. But if one media outlet is allowed inside, then all should be permitted. Either allow everyone or no one — that’s only fair. “If this happened today, I would say sorry. But next time, it won’t be repeated.” (KNO)