The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday said 160 doctor and paramedic posts remain vacant in hospitals across the Langate constituency in north Kashmir.
Responding to a query from MLA Sheikh Khursheed, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo ruled out immediate plans to upgrade Primary Health Centers (PHCs) and Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) in Langate due to ongoing austerity measures.
She said Langate has a sanctioned strength of 407 doctors and paramedics, out of which 247 are in position, while 160 posts remain vacant. Additionally, under the National Health Mission (NHM), 173 out of 184 sanctioned posts are filled, with 11 vacancies.
Itoo said proposals for opening and upgrading seven health institutions were submitted in 2001-02, following Cabinet and District Development Board meetings.
This led to the creation of 988 posts, including 6 Consultant posts, 2 Assistant Surgeon posts and 1 Dental Surgeon post (for SDH Zachaldara and SDH Kralgund), she said.
However, under Government Order No. 875 (dated 06.09.2002), posts with a pay scale of Rs 5000-8000 and above were put on hold until further orders, the minister said.
The health minister said all PHCs and Sub-Centres have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs), offering 12 service packages. However, some centres still lack Medical Lab and Health Professional Staff (MLHPS), which will be addressed soon, she said, adding that essential drugs and diagnostics have been made available per standard guidelines.
To strengthen grassroots healthcare, 365 newly appointed Medical Officers have been posted to remote and peripheral health institutions across J&K, the minister said, adding that the government is also processing a waitlist of 91 additional Medical Officers, who will be deployed to underserved areas.
Responding to MLA Dr Sajad Shafi’s request for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) centres in Baramulla, Anantnag and Srinagar, Itoo said the matter will be taken up with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.
She said Kashmiri medical graduates who complete their studies abroad have long demanded local FMGE exam centres, as they currently must travel to Samba, Noida or Amritsar. “This leads to logistical and financial challenges,” the minister said—(KNO)
