Irfan Tramboo
SRINAGAR, May 24: Despite vacancies in Junior Grade Nurse positions, SMHS Hospital-which caters to the substantial patient footfall of GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals-continues to operate by increasingly relying on contractual staff while failing to fill its sanctioned posts.
According to details provided in response to RTI, the total sanctioned strength for Junior Grade Nurses is 159. Of these, 136 positions are currently filled, including 75 permanent staff members, while the remaining are engaged on a contractual basis.
Although 23 posts remain vacant, the hospital has engaged 58 nurses on contract to bridge the staffing gap, bringing the total number of nurses in position to 136.
The numbers indicate that authorities are not going for permanent recruitment for Junior Grade Nurse positions beyond the current 75 posts, leaving the remaining positions either vacant or temporarily filled.
The hospital is also grappling with shortages in key administrative roles, with both sanctioned posts for Deputy Medical Superintendent lying vacant.
For Nursing Supervisors, 9 out of 16 sanctioned posts are filled, while the rest remain vacant. For Senior Grade Nurses, 54 of the 66 sanctioned posts are occupied, with 12 lying vacant. Additionally, two out of four Assistant Matron posts are currently vacant.
In terms of patient footfall, which indicates a high demand for services, the hospital recorded 986,174 outpatient visits and 107,584 inpatient admissions in 2023-24.
The Surgical Departments, according to available data, were particularly active-performing 8,348 general surgeries and 8,149 ophthalmology procedures during the year, although a slight decline was observed in 2024.
The hospital recorded 3,521 deaths in 2023-24 and 2,214 deaths by December 2024.
Regarding another aspect of patient care-the treatment and surgeries carried out under the AB-PMJAY scheme-SMHS Hospital performed the highest number of surgeries and treated the most patients among the associated hospitals of GMC Srinagar in 2023-24.
According to the figures, over 17,000 surgeries were conducted and more than 43,000 patients received treatment under the scheme at SMHS.
It was followed by the Super Speciality Hospital, where over 14,000 surgeries were performed and 28,000 patients were treated during the same period.
At Lal Ded Hospital and Government Children’s Hospital, 7,000 and 13,000 patients, respectively, received treatment. At the Bone and Joint Hospital, 5,800 surgeries were conducted and 6,500 patients were treated.
Meanwhile, at the Government Chest Disease Hospital, Government Kashmir Nursing Home, Government Psychiatry Hospital, and Sub-District Hospital Hazratbal, over 8,000 patients were treated under the scheme.
Additional information provided through the RTI includes a detailed overview of SMHS operations, covering budget allocations and other aspects.
For 2023-24, the hospital had a total budget allocation of approximately Rs 130 crore, with major allocations of Rs 75 crore for salaries, Rs 9.5 crore for maintenance and repairs, and over Rs 4 crore for drugs and instruments.
From April to December 2024, the partial-year budget dropped to Rs 106 crore, with significant cuts-over Rs 60 crore allocated for salaries and Rs 6.95 crore for maintenance.
The hospital also operates four drug counters-one hospital-run, two under the Amrit scheme, and one Jan Aushadhi outlet. Additionally, a wage revision increased the daily wage rate from Rs 225 to Rs 300 for certain staff.
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