SRINAGAR: Rattan Lal Gupta, Provincial President of the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), has criticised the previous administration for its failure to address the acute shortage of medical professionals in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. He assured that the Omar Abdullah-led government would prioritise strengthening the healthcare sector.
Speaking at a meeting with the Block Committee of Padder, Gupta highlighted the severe shortage of Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, Consultants, and Para-medical staff in rural health institutions. He blamed the previous government for its “casual and negligent approach” in filling vacant posts, leaving underserved populations without adequate medical care.
A status report submitted to the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court revealed significant vacancies in the health department, 664 Medical Officers and 2,489 Para-medical staff posts remain unfilled in Jammu Division, while Kashmir Division faces shortages of 72 Medical Officers and 2,651 Para-medics. The High Court recently expressed dismay over the deteriorating healthcare services, especially in rural and remote areas.
“The absence of doctors in rural health centres forces patients to travel long distances or go without treatment. Many facilities remain closed or function with skeletal staff due to lack of recruitment,” Gupta stated, adding that repeated appeals to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration for urgent hiring had gone unanswered.
He further assured that the JKNC, under Omar Abdullah’s leadership, will prioritise filling all vacant medical posts and upgrading healthcare infrastructure when in power. “We are committed to ensuring that every citizen, regardless of location, has access to quality medical care,” he affirmed.
