The Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar is facing a severe faculty shortage, with over 150 assistant professor posts and 25 professor-level positions currently vacant.
This information was revealed through a Right to Information (RTI) query obtained by RTI activist MM Shuja and accessed by the news agency.
According to the RTI details, GMC Srinagar has 108 sanctioned professor posts—83 filled and 25 vacant. The vacant professor posts are due to the promotion process, which recommends eligible candidates as they meet the requirements.
To address the staffing shortage, GMC Srinagar advertised for assistant, associate, and professor posts across six sub-specialities at the Pediatric Hospital on an academic arrangement basis under S.O. 364 of 2020, with the selection process ongoing. The entry-level assistant professor posts in 33 departments were also advertised, but their selection has been stayed by the Jammu and Kashmir & Ladakh High Court as of November 14, 2024, in WP(c) No: 2529/2024.
Vacancies are spread across nearly all departments, including critical areas like medical oncology, pediatric anaesthesia, pediatric cardiology, pediatric orthopaedics, neurology and others. In some departments, all three levels—professor, associate professor, and assistant professor—are vacant. This faculty shortage is impacting both academic activities and healthcare services, which serve thousands of patients daily and train hundreds of medical students.
GMC Srinagar officials confirmed the staffing issues, saying that recruitment processes are underway. “Recruitments are pending and have been taken up with the concerned authorities. The process is ongoing,” said a senior official.
Medical professionals expressed concern that the faculty crunch could compromise the quality of education and patient care. “Inadequate faculty means overburdened departments and limited attention for both students and patients,” said a doctor at the hospital.
On the development front, officials said several infrastructure projects were completed last year, with more underway for 2025. “We completed various upgrades, including ward improvements, new medical equipment, and sanitation measures,” an official said. “This year, our focus is on further modernisation and expanding services.”
Students and healthcare workers have urged the government to expedite appointments to ensure that academic standards and patient services are not compromised—(KNO)
