SRINAGAR: Medical Block Sogam and Machil are operating with a large staffing shortfall, the government told the assembly, with 112 posts filled out of 225 sanctioned, leaving a deficit of 113 sanctioned posts. To relieve pressure on frontline services, the National Health Mission has engaged 104 doctors and paramedics on a contractual basis, officials said. Medical Block Sogam
The Health and Medical Education Department has moved to fill vacancies through formal recruitments as well as temporary engagements. Four hundred and eighty posts of medical officers have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission for selection; once the selection process is complete, those appointed will be posted to far-flung and underserved areas, including Sogam and other Machil border localities. JKPSC
Vacancies in the non-gazetted and paramedical categories are also being addressed. The department has referred 292 such posts from the Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health and Immunisation to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board for recruitment; advertisements for these posts have been issued. In addition, a further 802 non-gazetted, MTS and sanitation posts in the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir are under departmental examination for onward referral to the JKSSB. JKSSB
Officials stressed that contractual hires under the National Health Mission are intended to “supplement” existing staff until regular recruits join. The department said newly selected doctors will be posted according to requirement and policy, signalling that permanent relief for border health blocks hinges on the timely completion of selections by recruitment agencies and subsequent postings.
