Srinagar, Sep 21: The Jammu and Kashmir Government has said that efforts are underway to address shortages of doctors and paramedical staff in healthcare institutions in the remote Karnah area of Kupwara district, while acknowledging that some health institutions may still be functioning without adequate medical manpower.
The government made the statement in response to a starred question raised by MLA Javaid Ahmad Mirchal regarding the shortage of medical and paramedical staff at various health institutions in Karnah, including PHCs at Teetwal, Chiterkote, and Panzgam and NTPHCs at Gundishart, Kandi, and Nachiyan.
In its reply, the Health and Medical Education Department said that while there may be a few institutions without doctors, necessary arrangements are being made through internal deployments to ensure continuity of healthcare services. The government further stated that doctors from the AYUSH side have been posted at PHC Chiterkote and PHC Panzgam, while paramedical staff is available at PHC Chiterkote, PHC Teetwal, PHC Panzgam, and PHC Nachiyan.
Regarding recruitment, the department said that 480 posts of Medical Officers (Allopathic) had been referred to the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for selection. Against these posts, 416 candidates were recommended, of whom 335 Medical Officers have so far been appointed. The government said the newly appointed doctors would be deployed appropriately, keeping in view the requirements of peripheral, underserved, remote, and difficult-area health institutions, including areas falling under the Actual Line of Control (ALC).
It also said that 466 Non-Gazetted posts under the establishment of the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, have been referred to the recruiting agency for selection of suitable candidates. Besides regular recruitment, the department said the National Health Mission (NHM) is providing supplementary human resources under various approved programmes. At present, 73 NHM personnel are working in the Karnah constituency, according to the reply.
On allegations regarding the attachment or deployment of NHM employees outside Karnah/Tangdar, the government said that no NHM staff member belonging to Block Tangdar and Karnah constituency is presently attached, deployed, or posted outside their respective places of duty anywhere in Kupwara district. However, the department acknowledged that the issue of attachment and deployment of regular staff is being examined to ensure equitable distribution of available manpower and minimise avoidable shortages at peripheral and difficult-area health institutions.
The government said it has been taking measures to strengthen healthcare manpower in Karnah through rational deployment of available staff, recruitment against sanctioned vacancies, and augmentation of human resources under NHM programmes.
On the demand for action against officers allegedly responsible for attaching paramedical/FMPHW staff in violation of NHM norms, the government said no specific instance of violation of NHM norms or responsibility of any officer had been established on the basis of the present record to warrant action at this stage. The department reiterated that NHM staff deployment is to be regulated in accordance with approved programme guidelines, sanctioned requirements, and applicable administrative norms.
It said the government remains committed to optimum utilisation of available human resources and uninterrupted healthcare delivery, particularly in remote and difficult areas such as Karnah—(KNO)
