SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday said it has started the process to fill over 2,400 vacancies in the health department, citing a shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in rural and remote areas.
In a written reply to a question by Congress leader GA Mir in the assembly, the government said 480 posts of Medical Officers have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission.
The government stated that 292 non-gazetted vacancies from various directorates have been sent to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB), which has advertised the positions.
It added that 290 additional vacancies from the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, have also been forwarded to the JKSSB, while another 608 posts are in the process of being referred.
For Kashmir division, 802 posts are under examination for referral to the selection board, it said.
The government said contractual recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff is already being undertaken under the National Health Mission to bridge immediate gaps, especially in far-flung and under-served areas.
Responding to calls for fast-track or local-level contractual hiring, the government said recruitment at the constituency or district level outside the NHM framework is “not feasible,” as appointments must follow established rules, and any parallel system could create “administrative and legal complications.”
