Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 4: Staff shortage is severely hitting healthcare in hilly districts of Jammu region where 184, out of 259 hospitals, are without doctors.
This was disclosed by RTI activist S Balvinder Singh, here today while shared the information received from Directorate of Health Service Jammu, under Right to Information Act.
“Out of 259 PHCs, NPHCs and CHCs in the hilly and remotest areas of almost all the districts of Jammu province, 184 of them are running without any doctor,” he said and added that there was a shortage of 982 doctors in the health sector across Jammu province as only 1073 doctors are in position against the sanctioned strength of 1926 doctors.
While hilly districts are suffering because of staff shortage, 93 doctors are working as surplus in Jammu district and a few others in adjoining areas, Singh disclosed. “Recently some doctors, from the surplus category and doctors working without post were transferred with the intervention of Chief Minister but to the utter surprise most of the transferee have not yet been relieved,” he added.
Sharing details, the RTI activist revealed that in Doda district, there are only 65 specialists and medical officers in place against the sanctioned strength of 210 while 34 out of 35 hospitals are without doctors.
Similarly in Kishtwar, he added, there is a shortage 59 doctors while 13 out of 21 health centres are without doctors.
Rajouri has shortage of 159 specialists and medical officers and 25 out of 42 health centres are being run without any doctor while Poonch has only 64 doctors in position against the sanctioned strength of 205 doctors.
Ramban district has shortage of 76 doctors while 25 out of 42 health centres are without single doctors. Reasi has only 37 doctors in place against the sanction strength of 101 while 18 out of 25 health centres are without doctors
In Udhampur, there is a shortage of 106 doctors in the district and 29 out of 40 PHCs, NTPHCs & CHCs, all situated in the remotest area like Shamthi, Sartingal, Gatha, Sarnaha, Thanala etc, are running without any doctor.
In Kathua, there is a shortage of 94 doctors while 19 out of 37 health centres are without doctors
Others, present in the press conference, included Ayaz Ahmad Khan, Mahesh Kotwal and Manmohan Singh.