SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir is grappling with 607 vacant positions at AIIMS Jammu, including both faculty and non-faculty roles, despite an increase in sanctioned posts over the past three years. This was revealed in a written response by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in the Rajya Sabha on December 17.
According to the ministry’s data, AIIMS Jammu has seen a rise in sanctioned positions for both faculty and non-faculty staff. Faculty positions increased from 183 in 2022-23 to 183 in 2023-24 and remain constant in 2024-25. However, the number of vacant faculty posts remains significant at 77 out of 183 sanctioned posts for 2024-25.
Similarly, non-faculty posts, including nursing and technical staff, increased from 919 in 2022-23 to 1,267 in 2024-25, reflecting growing demand for healthcare services and infrastructure expansion. Yet, 530 non-faculty posts remain unfilled, adding to the staffing shortage.
The response highlights that recruitment across all AIIMS institutions is an ongoing process. The Centralised Nursing Officer Recruitment Common Eligibility Test (NORCET) and the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) for non-faculty posts are conducted by AIIMS Delhi to expedite hiring. Despite these efforts, significant gaps persist, impacting staff availability.
The Ministry assured that 19 AIIMS, including AIIMS Jammu, continue to provide essential healthcare services, with OPD and IPD facilities fully operational. However, the unfilled positions at AIIMS Jammu raise concerns about the institution’s ability to meet growing healthcare demands in the region.
