SRINAGAR: Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Friday acknowledged shortages of medical and paramedical staff in some healthcare institutions across Jammu and Kashmir, saying the gaps vary depending on sanctioned strength, vacancies and functional requirements.
Replying to a question by Hazratbal MLA Salman Ali Sagar in the Legislative Assembly, Itoo said the Health and Medical Education Department was regularly reviewing the manpower position across healthcare institutions to ensure optimum utilisation of available staff and uninterrupted healthcare services.
She said available medical and paramedical staff were being rationally deployed and adjusted between institutions based on patient load, functional requirements, availability of specialised services and other public health needs.
On the impact of staff shortages on healthcare delivery in Srinagar district, the minister said health services across Jammu and Kashmir were currently functioning smoothly.
“Wherever shortages exist, these are being supplemented through the deployment/engagement of staff under the National Health Mission (NHM), as permissible,” she said, adding that there was consequently no adverse impact on healthcare delivery in Srinagar district.
On shortages of doctors, nurses and allied staff at SKIMS, Itoo said services at the institute were also running smoothly.
She said available manpower was being utilised optimally, while vacancies were being addressed through recruitment and other permissible arrangements to ensure continuity of patient care.
The minister said the government was using a combination of rational deployment, recruitment, NHM engagement and other permissible measures to bridge manpower gaps across healthcare institutions.
