Srinagar, Apr 01 (KNO): A concerning picture of healthcare infrastructure has emerged from Reasi district, where the Mother and Child Care (MCH) Hospital is grappling with an acute shortage of staff, severely impacting service delivery.
Responding to a question raised by MLA Kuldeep Raj Dubey in the Legislative Assembly, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), informed the House that out of 33 sanctioned posts at the Mother and Child Care Hospital in Reasi, only 4 are currently filled, while a staggering 29 posts remain vacant.
The revelation reveals strain on maternal and child healthcare services in the district, even as the government acknowledged the critical need for adequate staffing in healthcare institutions.
The minister, however, said that the District Hospital Reasi, located barely one kilometre from the MCH Hospital, is playing a supportive role in ensuring that patient care services are not entirely disrupted. “Healthcare services, including maternal and child health care, are being provided at District Hospital Reasi as well to cater to the needs of the general public,” she said.
Despite this arrangement, concerns persist over the effectiveness of service delivery at a dedicated MCH facility functioning with minimal staff, raising questions about accessibility and specialised care for women and children.
Addressing the broader issue, the minister said the government is fully conscious of the shortage of doctors and paramedical personnel and has initiated multiple recruitment measures to bridge the gap.
"480 vacant posts of Medical Officers have already been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) for direct recruitment," she said, adding that 292 vacancies in the non-gazetted/paramedical category under the Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health and Immunisation have been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) and have already been advertised.
Further strengthening the recruitment process, 290 paramedical vacancies under the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, have also been sent to JKSSB, Itoo said, adding that the government is also in the process of referring another 608 posts to JKSSB, pending concurrence from the Finance Department.
The minister assured that as soon as selections are finalised by the recruiting agencies, priority will be given to filling vacancies in health institutions facing acute staff shortages, including the MCH Hospital Reasi—(KNO)