Incentives, fast-track hiring planned to fill gaps: Govt
Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, Apr 4: Over half of the sanctioned posts at SKIMS Soura are lying vacant, while GMC Srinagar and its associated hospital alone account for 1,275 unfilled positions, as per the data presented in the Legislative Assembly.
At SKIMS Soura, 1,222 out of 2,262 sanctioned posts are vacant, translating to a vacancy rate of around 54 per cent. The shortages include 98 faculty posts, 785 paramedical staff and 339 nursing staff.
At GMC Srinagar and its associated hospital, 1,275 posts are vacant, including 193 assistant professors, 102 doctors and 980 nurses and paramedics.
The data further reveals similar gaps across other major institutions. GMC Jammu and its associated hospital have 1,531 vacancies, including 366 doctors, 261 nurses and 904 paramedical staff.
GMC Baramulla has 258 vacant posts out of 482 sanctioned, while GMC Handwara has 600 vacancies against 748 posts.
GMC Udhampur reports 183 vacancies out of 242 sanctioned posts, while GMC Rajouri has 309 vacancies out of 804 posts.
GMC Anantnag also shows multiple gaps across faculty, junior and senior residents and consultants.
SKIMS Bemina has 393 vacancies out of 1,167 sanctioned posts, including shortages in faculty, paramedical, nursing and Class-IV staff.
Dental College Jammu reports vacancies of 8 assistant professors, 5 junior staff nurses and 44 paramedical staff, while Dental College Kashmir has 9 assistant professors, 4 junior nurses and 40 paramedical staff vacant.
In peripheral healthcare, DHS Jammu reports shortages of 689 doctors, 238 nurses and 1,514 paramedical staff, while DHS Kashmir has 229 doctor vacancies, 338 nursing vacancies and 1,372 paramedical staff vacant.
The figures were shared in response to an unstarred question tabled by MLA Dr Sunil Bhardwaj, with the Government stating that it has formulated a comprehensive plan to strengthen the health sector.
The plan includes expansion and upgradation of hospital infrastructure, accelerated recruitment drives, integration of digital health services such as e-Sanjeevani, and targeted public health initiatives including TB elimination by 2025 and strengthening immunisation under Mission Indradhanush.
The Government said over 480 posts of medical officers have been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission, while contractual hiring under NHM and academic arrangement basis is being used to bridge immediate gaps.
It also informed that 834 gazetted posts have been referred to the JKPSC and 1,025 non-gazetted posts to the JKSSB.
Additionally, 802 non-gazetted posts in DHS Kashmir and 608 posts in DHS Jammu are under process and will be referred to the JKSSB after required clearances.
Despite these measures, the Government acknowledged that shortages persist in several institutions due to limited availability of specialists in critical disciplines, delays in recruitment processes, attrition and migration of skilled professionals, and reluctance of personnel to serve in remote and difficult areas.
It said steps such as hardship allowances, career progression incentives for rural postings, fast-track recruitment, rationalisation and redeployment of staff, and capacity building through new medical colleges and paramedical institutes are being undertaken to address the gaps and improve healthcare delivery across the Union Territory.
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