Srinagar, Apr 09 (KNO): Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, one of the tertiary healthcare institutions in north Kashmir, is grappling with a severe manpower shortage, with more than 50 per cent of sanctioned posts lying vacant—raising serious concerns about patient care and service delivery.
According to official figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), out of 482 sanctioned posts across various cadres, only 224 are currently filled, leaving 258 vacancies.
The shortage is particularly alarming among Assistant Professors, doctors, and paramedical staff.
As per details, among 65 sanctioned Assistant Professor posts, 29 are in position, and 36 are vacant. Among doctors, 59 posts are sanctioned, 25 are in position, and 34 are lying vacant. Among paramedical staff, 358 are sanctioned, 170 are in position, and 188 are vacant.
Locals said that despite being established around the same time as GMC Anantnag, the Baramulla college has lagged significantly in infrastructure and staffing.
“GMC Anantnag and GMC Baramulla were set up together, but if you compare today, Anantnag has better staffing and even advanced facilities like MRI and Cath Lab. Here, even basic specialist availability is a challenge,” said Abdul Rashid, a resident of Sopore.
Locals said the absence of critical diagnostic and cardiac care infrastructure, such as MRI and Cath Lab, has made the situation even more difficult for patients across North Kashmir.
“There is no MRI facility in the entire north Kashmir, nor do we have a Cath Lab. Patients suffering from neurological or cardiac emergencies are forced to rush to Srinagar, which often leads to delays in treatment,” said Shabir Ahmad, a resident of Baramulla town.
Another local, Haleema Begum from Kupwara, said that the burden on patients is immense, both financially and physically. “We have to travel long distances to Srinagar for MRI scans or heart-related procedures. Not everyone can afford repeated travel and private tests,” she said.
Officials said the shortage of faculty and medical staff is directly impacting the functioning of the hospital, including delays in surgeries, outpatient services, and emergency care.
A senior resident of the area, Ghulam Nabi, said the government must act swiftly. “More than half of the posts are vacant. How can a medical college function like this? Authorities need to fill these vacancies on a priority basis and ensure that modern facilities like MRI and Cath Lab are made available here,” he added.
Residents have urged the Health and Medical Education Department to take immediate steps to address the crisis by fast-tracking recruitment and upgrading infrastructure at GMC Baramulla.
They said that continued neglect could further widen the healthcare gap between North Kashmir and Srinagar, leaving thousands of patients without timely and adequate medical care.
An official from the health department said that the cath lab, along with MRI, is expected to come in this financial year while efforts are on to fill up the staff vacancies as well—(KNO)