The health sector in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is confronting a shortage of staff as thousands of vacancies for doctors and paramedical staff remain unfilled in the Health and Medical Education Department.
In response to a question raised by MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi, the government stated in the Legislative Assembly that 2,891 posts of doctors and 9,723 posts of paramedics and nurses are vacant in health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
According to the government, the shortage arising from these vacancies is currently being addressed through interim appointments under the National Health Mission (NHM) and the academic system.
The response stated that the department has received the selection records of 416 doctors selected through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC).
Appointment orders have been issued for 335 of these candidates. Besides, 1,567 paramedical/non-gazetted posts have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for the selection of suitable candidates.
“There is a shortage of medical and paramedical staff in certain healthcare institutions across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. The extent of the shortage varies from institution to institution, depending on the sanctioned strength, existing vacancies, functional requirements and service-delivery needs,” the government informed the House.
The department is continuously monitoring the manpower position across all healthcare institutions with a view to ensuring optimum utilisation of available human resources and uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services.
“Wherever required, the available medical and paramedical manpower is rationally deployed and adjusted among healthcare institutions, keeping in view the patient load, functional requirements, institutional needs, availability of specialised services and the overall public health requirements of the concerned healthcare institutions,” the government stated.
All health services in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir are presently functioning smoothly. The shortage of staff, wherever it exists, is being supplemented through the deployment or engagement of staff under the National Health Mission (NHM), as permissible.
Consequently, there has been no adverse impact on the delivery of healthcare services in Srinagar district, the government stated, adding that health services are running smoothly at present.
However, the available manpower is being utilised optimally, and vacancies are being addressed through recruitment and permissible alternative arrangements to ensure continuity of patient-care services.
“The vacant posts in various medical and paramedical categories are proposed to be filled on priority, subject to the availability of selection panels/recommendations from the competent recruiting agencies,” the government informed the House, adding, “Appointments against such vacant posts shall be made strictly in accordance with the prescribed rules, procedures and other extant instructions, and only against duly sanctioned posts received from the competent recruiting agencies.”
“The demands for opening new health institutions or upgrading existing facilities are examined on the basis of infrastructure availability, population, patient load, manpower, equipment, availability of encumbrance-free land, UT Policy, 2022, budgetary implications, administrative clearances and inter-departmental consultations,” the government stated.
In terms of health facility density, J&K has approximately one health facility for every 3,500 people, compared with the national average of around 1:6,000, indicating relatively wider availability of health facilities.
“Accordingly, in pursuance of the assurance given by the Minister for Health and Medical Education on the floor of the Legislative Assembly, the focus is presently being laid on the consolidation, strengthening and optimal utilisation of existing facilities,” the government further stated.