Jammu, Sep 21: Seven out of ten Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and New Type Primary Health Centres (NTPHCs) in Budhal Assembly constituency are functioning without doctors and requisite paramedical staff, the government acknowledged, while stating that measures are underway to address the shortage.
The issue was raised by MLA Javaid Iqbal through a question in the Legislative Assembly, seeking details about the shortage of doctors and paramedical staff in health institutions across the remote and tribal areas of the constituency.
In its reply, the Health and Medical Education Department said the government was aware of the shortage of human resources in peripheral and underserved health institutions and had been taking steps to address the issue.
The government said it had received the selection list of 416 candidates for the post of Medical Officer, of whom 335 have already been appointed.
The newly appointed doctors, it said, would be posted on priority to peripheral, remote, far-flung and underserved health institutions facing an acute shortage of doctors, subject to the availability of sanctioned posts and other administrative requirements.
The department said the postings would focus on areas where people continue to face difficulties in accessing regular healthcare services due to staff shortages.
Regarding paramedical and other staff, the government said 292 vacant posts under Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health (MCH) and Immunisation in J&K, along with 290 gazetted and paramedical vacancies under the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, have already been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for recruitment.
Besides, 839 non-gazetted vacancies and 261 MTS (Class-IV) posts in Jammu Division are under examination in the Administrative Department and will be referred to the JKSSB for advertisement and recruitment after completion of the required formalities and obtaining necessary concurrence from the Finance Department, wherever required.
The government also acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents of remote and tribal areas due to the shortage of medical and paramedical personnel, saying alternative arrangements had been put in place to ensure continuity of essential healthcare services.
It said medical mobile teams comprising doctors and paramedical staff were being deployed in remote, far-flung and tribal areas as per a monthly roster. Mobile ambulance services and essential medicines were also being provided as part of these arrangements.
Responding to a query on representations made to the concerned minister during the past two years, the government reiterated that it was making efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and human resources across Jammu and Kashmir.
It said vacancies of Medical Officers and paramedical staff would be filled in a phased manner, with priority given to remote and tribal areas. The 335 newly appointed Medical Officers would be posted shortly, particularly in institutions facing an acute shortage of doctors—(KNO)
