40 senior specialist, 393 consultant posts vacant in J&K: Govt

Srinagar, Sep 25: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has reported major manpower shortages in the health sector, with 40 vacancies among senior specialists, 393 consultant posts, 840 Medical Officer posts and 6,248 vacancies in the paramedical and other staff categories.
The figures were shared by the Health and Medical Education Department in response to a starred question by MLA Saifullah in the Legislative Assembly.
According to the government, only 11 senior specialists are in place against 51 sanctioned posts, while 543 consultants are working against 936 sanctioned posts. Similarly, 2,019 Medical Officers are in position against a sanctioned strength of 2,859, leaving 840 vacancies.
The government said that the appointment orders have recently been issued for 335 Medical Officers selected through the JKPSC and will be posted on priority to peripheral, far-flung and underserved areas facing acute shortages.
It said the Dental Surgeon cadre has no vacancy, with all 486 sanctioned posts filled.
The largest shortfall is in the paramedical and other staff category, where 12,497 employees are in position against 18,745 sanctioned posts, leaving 6,248 vacancies.
To address the shortages, 466 non-gazetted posts in Kashmir Division have been referred to the JKSSB for recruitment. Besides, 292 vacancies under Family Welfare, MCH and Immunisation programmes and 290 non-gazetted and paramedical posts under the Directorate of Health Services Jammu have also been referred to the board.
The government said another 839 non-gazetted posts and 261 MTS/Class-IV vacancies in Jammu Division are proposed to be referred to JKSSB after completion of the required formalities.
The department said proposals for opening or upgrading health institutions are assessed on the basis of population, patient load, manpower requirements, infrastructure, land availability and budgetary considerations.
It claimed that J&K has nearly one health facility for every 3,500 people compared to the national average of around one facility for every 6,000 population, adding that the focus remains on strengthening and optimally utilising existing institutions.
The government said specialist services are being expanded through the DNB programme, which is operational in 22 institutions with 408 approved seats. A total of 608 residents are undergoing training, while 338 specialists have passed out under the programme.
It added that 620 postgraduate residents have been deployed under the District Residency Programme to strengthen specialist services at District Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals and Community Health Centres.
The government also highlighted the expansion of e-Sanjeevani services, which have recorded 16.11 lakh tele-consultations, while tele-radiology services have been extended to 95 healthcare facilities.
The Tele-MANAS Cell at IMHANS, GMC Srinagar, has registered 1.73 lakh calls and continues to provide round-the-clock mental health tele-consultation services across J&K, the government said.
It added that efforts are focused on filling vacancies, strengthening existing infrastructure and improving healthcare access in remote and underserved areas. (KNO)