SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has acknowledged shortages of doctors, nurses and other paramedical personnel in healthcare institutions across the Union Territory, while stating that the gaps have not adversely affected patient care.
The Health and Medical Education Department made the admission in a written reply to a starred question raised by MLA Salman Ali Sagar during the ongoing autumn session of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly.
The government said staffing shortages exist in “certain healthcare institutions” and vary between facilities depending on their sanctioned strength and functional requirements. It added that the manpower position was being monitored continuously to ensure optimum utilisation of available staff.
On the situation in District Srinagar, the government said health services were functioning smoothly despite staffing gaps. It attributed the continuity of services to stop-gap measures, including deployment or engagement of personnel through the National Health Mission (NHM), wherever permissible.
The government also said services at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) were running smoothly despite vacancies among doctors, nurses and allied staff. According to the reply, the available workforce was being utilised optimally, while vacancies were being addressed through recruitment and other permissible arrangements.
On filling the vacant positions, the Minister in charge of Health and Medical Education told the House that vacancies in various medical and paramedical categories were proposed to be filled on priority.
The government, however, said appointments would depend on the availability of selection panels and recommendations from the competent recruiting agencies.
