by Umaima Reshi
SRINAGAR: The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is undergoing a major transformation in healthcare delivery. The government is working to strengthen primary, secondary, and tertiary health institutions, but the availability of medical and paramedical staff remains the crucial factor determining both the quality and extent of public health services.
The Department of Health and Medical Education responded to questions in the Legislative Assembly, providing an overview of the issues and administrative measures being taken to make healthcare more accessible in the region.
In response to a question regarding the sanctioned and in-position medical and paramedical staff across Primary Health Centres, Community Health Centres, Trauma Hospitals, Sub-District Hospitals, District Hospitals, and Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir—with specific reference to Doda district—the department outlined current staffing levels and ongoing recruitment measures aimed at improving health facilities.
District-Wise Staffing Analysis
A district-wise staffing analysis of the Kashmir Division revealed that in Srinagar, all 196 regular medical posts are occupied, while 71 of 79 are filled under the National Health Mission (NHM), leaving eight vacant. Among paramedical staff, 103 of 219 regular posts are filled, with 116 unoccupied. On the NHM side, 389 of 452 positions are occupied, leaving 63 unfilled.
In Ganderbal, 150 of 174 regular medical posts are filled, and 48 of 54 under NHM. Paramedical staffing includes 343 of 460 regular posts and 262 of 325 NHM positions filled.
In Budgam, 373 of 411 regular medical posts and all 120 NHM posts are filled. However, the paramedical section shows the greatest shortage, with only 386 of 1,290 regular posts and 512 of 562 NHM posts occupied—leaving 954 vacancies in total.
Pulwama has 231 of 267 regular medical posts filled and all 37 NHM posts occupied. Among paramedics, 585 of 825 regular posts and 292 of 326 NHM posts are filled.
In Baramulla, 296 regular medical positions and 141 NHM posts are filled. Paramedical staffing stands at 420 of 675 regular posts and 704 of 806 NHM posts occupied, indicating a relatively moderate vacancy rate.
Bandipora has 120 regular and 44 NHM medical posts filled. Paramedical staffing stands at 427 of 525 regular and 268 of 280 NHM posts filled.
In Kulgam, 184 regular and 77 NHM medical posts are filled. Among paramedics, 437 of 695 regular and 474 of 504 NHM posts are occupied.
Kupwara shows pronounced shortages, with only 206 of 349 regular medical posts filled and 124 of 142 NHM posts occupied. For paramedics, 593 of 953 regular and 738 of 831 NHM posts are filled.
Shopian has 102 of 112 regular and all 19 NHM medical posts filled. Paramedical staffing includes 86 of 171 regular and 225 of 240 NHM posts occupied.
In Anantnag, 225 of 267 regular and 73 of 77 NHM medical posts are filled. Among paramedics, 874 of 1,191 regular and 541 of 588 NHM posts are occupied.
In Jammu district, 267 of 346 medical and 651 of 1,021 paramedical posts are filled. Doda reports 45 of 109 medical and 162 of 251 paramedical posts in position. Kathua has 77 of 173 medical and 261 of 386 paramedical posts filled. Kishtwar shows 43 of 81 medical and 163 of 238 paramedical posts in position. Ramban records 67 of 115 medical and 155 of 231 paramedical staff in place. Rajouri reports 68 of 153 medical and 236 of 407 paramedical staff. Reasi has 49 of 104 medical and 109 of 181 paramedical posts filled. Poonch maintains 72 of 172 medical and 216 of 358 paramedical posts, while Samba has 91 of 147 medical and 171 of 268 paramedical positions filled. Udhampur records 54 of 108 medical and 157 of 261 paramedical posts occupied.
The district-wise data reflects a deeply uneven landscape of healthcare human resources across Jammu and Kashmir. While certain districts such as Srinagar, Baramulla, and Anantnag show relatively stable staffing patterns, others—particularly Budgam, Kupwara, Doda, and Kishtwar—suffer from significant shortages that threaten the equity and efficiency of service delivery.
Recruitment and Vacancy Management
The Health Department has identified 480 new posts of Medical Officers that are being processed for referral to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). Additionally, 133 backlog posts, advertised thrice and returned by the Commission, are under departmental review for possible re-referral.
In non-gazetted and paramedical categories, 292 vacancies from the Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health (MCH), and Immunisation Directorates have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for recruitment.
Pending regular appointments, the department is managing shortages through interim measures such as NHM appointments and academic arrangements, especially in remote and underserved areas.
At present, there are 3,616 non-gazetted and 1,635 gazetted posts vacant across Jammu and Kashmir. Over the past two years, 197 gazetted and 772 non-gazetted posts were referred for advertisement and selection.
While the department’s efforts to institutionalise staffing reforms are evident, the continued presence of more than 5,000 vacancies indicates a structural mismatch between sanctioned strength and actual staffing levels. The repeated return of backlog posts by JKPSC suggests procedural bottlenecks and poor coordination between the department and recruiting agencies.
Although temporary measures such as NHM appointments are keeping basic functions running, they cannot replace a stable, long-term workforce. Overreliance on temporary engagements risks inconsistency in service quality and uncertainty among staff.
Infrastructure Development and Expansion
Significant infrastructural projects are underway to improve healthcare delivery. At Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, the installation of an MRI machine costing Rs 25 crore is in progress. A Cath Lab project worth Rs 12.5 crore has been approved, with Rs 9.37 crore released for implementation.
An IoT-based microwave medical waste unit worth Rs 80 lakh has been approved for biomedical waste disposal. A major expansion plan for GMC Baramulla includes the transfer of 32 kanals of land from the District Industries Centre, pending departmental approvals.
Additionally, Amargarh and Sopore have been allocated 50 kanals for Ayush facilities, while the procurement of AI-based digital X-ray machines worth Rs 2 crore under the TB-Mukht Abhiyan and SASKI programme is underway.
While these projects indicate strong intent towards modernisation, the absence of sufficient skilled personnel to operate and maintain such systems raises concerns. Moreover, procedural delays, fund approvals, and land transfers—historical bottlenecks in Jammu and Kashmir’s infrastructure projects—pose risks to timely implementation.
Regional Staffing Challenges and Responses
Emergency Hospital Qazigund and Sub-District Hospital Achabal are fully functional in Anantnag, but Qazigund lacks certain specialties such as anaesthesia and radiology. The hospital has 27 sanctioned doctor posts (22 filled) and 51 paramedical posts (29 filled).
In Shangus (Anantnag East), there are 54 vacancies—3 for doctors, 44 for paramedics, and 7 for other positions. The department has stated that recruitment and posting will follow due process once selections are made.
At Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kralpora in Kupwara, only three of seven sanctioned specialist posts are filled. All Medical Officers are in position, but three of four training reserve posts remain vacant.
At PHC Trehgam, 10 of 14 sanctioned medical posts are filled, while the Dental Surgeon post remains vacant. The government has clarified that these institutions are not entirely deprived of doctors and are being managed through efficient resource use until recruitment is completed.
At SDH Tangdar, most positions are filled, but anaesthesia and surgery departments face temporary shortages due to study leave and NHM dependency. Neighbouring hospitals are sharing staff to ensure continuity of core services.
The government acknowledges existing gaps but maintains that Jammu and Kashmir has one healthcare institution for every 3,500 inhabitants. Despite operational functionality, hospitals in remote areas continue to face acute shortages in key specialties such as anaesthesia, surgery, and radiology.
The medical human resource situation in Jammu and Kashmir reflects a dual reality: while institutional expansion and infrastructure investment are progressing, shortages of paramedics and specialists continue to constrain the system’s efficiency.
Recruitments through JKPSC and JKSSB signify intent to regularise staffing through formal processes, while large-scale infrastructure projects—such as MRI and Cath Labs, digital diagnostics, and Ayush facilities—demonstrate commitment to modernising healthcare.
However, the future of the sector will depend on the government’s ability to attract and retain skilled professionals in rural areas. Unless long-term recruitment and retention strategies are implemented, the healthcare system risks evolving into a two-tier structure—well-equipped in urban centres but overstretched and under-resourced in regions where public healthcare is most needed.
