SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of the Parliament from Anantnag Hasnain Masoodi on Sunday said the shortage of healthcare staff is adversely affecting patient care in hospitals across Kashmir.
Masoodi noted that primary, secondary, and tertiary healthcare hospitals across the Kashmir division operate with scant paramedical and medical staff. “This shortage adversely affects services and patient care, placing additional workload on the current staff.”
“The shortage of nurses, doctors, and technicians is severely affecting the healthcare system in Kashmir. As the demand for healthcare services continues to rise, our hospitals are struggling to meet patient needs. The sluggish recruitment process is unquestionably the main contributing factor to the worsening situation. Shortages of mid-level providers and allied healthcare professionals, such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified registered nurse anaesthetists, are widely felt across government hospitals in Kashmir. Not everyone can afford the hefty fees of private hospitals. Rural areas are experiencing more severe shortages than urban areas,” he said.
He stressed that the government must promptly address the staff shortage by ensuring a swift recruitment process through JKSSB and JKPSC. “The gazetted category, which holds a pivotal role in the medical hierarchy, has been particularly affected. This includes crucial positions like medical officers, senior consultants in medicine, and consultant paediatricians, exacerbating the staff crisis. Similarly, the non-gazetted category faces significant shortages, impacting roles such as anaesthesia assistants, junior nurses, and junior laboratory technicians, thereby hindering the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services. Even the Class IV cadre, essential for hospital functioning, remains vacant in several hospitals, further straining the existing workforce. I trust the government will promptly address this issue and take necessary steps to replenish the workforce.”
