Srinagar, Feb 19: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the availability of senior doctors across health institutions, including during night hours, stating that robust mechanisms are in place to guarantee uninterrupted patient care.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Shamim Firdous in the Legislative Assembly, Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Minister Sakeena Itoo said the government fully recognises the critical importance of having senior and specialist doctors accessible at all times, particularly during emergencies.
The minister informed the House that senior doctors posted in various health institutions perform their duties strictly in accordance with well-structured day and night duty rosters. These rosters, she said, are prepared after careful assessment of administrative requirements, patient load, availability of specialists, and the need to ensure uninterrupted healthcare delivery.
“Duty rosters are issued well in advance and communicated to all concerned doctors to ensure strict adherence,” she said, adding that district health authorities regularly monitor their implementation through hospital administrations and designated supervisory officers.
Itoo further stated that any deviation from the prescribed schedules is promptly addressed as per established rules and procedures.
She said that while senior and specialist doctors attend routine Out-Patient Department (OPD) duties during notified hours, they are also placed on on-call duty during evenings and nights to ensure immediate availability for emergencies and expert consultations.
At the premier tertiary care facility, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), the minister said that highly qualified specialists, including those with MD/MS and DM/MCh qualifications, remain available during night hours in emergency services as well as inpatient wards. “Consultants on call provide guidance and physically attend the hospital whenever required, particularly in cases involving emergency procedures or surgeries,” she said.
Similarly, in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) across the Union Territory, senior doctors and consultants are assigned on-call duties as per approved rosters, Itoo said, adding that during night hours, patient care in emergency and inpatient departments is managed by Junior and Senior Residents under the supervision of senior faculty members.
“In all critical and medico-legal cases, senior doctors attend the hospital physically whenever the situation demands,” the minister said—(KNO)
