Srinagar, Jan 18 (KNO): Over 50 critical posts, including doctors and paramedics, remain vacant in the Ganderbal Medical Block, with District Hospital Ganderbal bearing the brunt of these shortages.
The unfilled positions include Consultant Surgeon, Consultant Pediatrician, Medical Officers, Anesthesia Assistants, X-ray Technicians, Pharmacists, Blood Bank Technicians and support staff such as cleaners and drivers, according to an RTI reply accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO).
Despite recruitment efforts, the block has only managed to appoint 8 doctors and 3 paramedics since 2019. Meanwhile, 9 doctors and paramedics have retired over the past five years.
Several staff members, including pharmacists and assistants, have been attached to offices outside the medical block, which has further strained resources. Two ambulances at Primary Health Centers (PHC) in Shuhama, Chundina, and Tulmulla are non-functional.
Locals have raised concerns about doctors stationed at the same location for over 6-10 years, despite the government's claims of adhering to a strict transfer policy. Eleven Medical Officers have reportedly not been transferred for more than three years, and nine doctors posted between 2014-2017 continue to work at District Hospital Ganderbal without relocation.
Residents questioned why many employees are attached to other departments if the government claims strict enforcement of transfer and posting policies. They called for an investigation into the alleged violations and accountability for the officials involved.
The report highlights that no sanctioned posts for gynaecologists exist within the block, except at the District Hospital, leaving no access to specialized care in rural areas.
While construction projects for healthcare infrastructure are underway, progress is slow. For instance, the construction of AAM SC Pandach was completed in 2024; the new building for NTPHC Nunner remains incomplete due to funding shortages, with only 70% of the work finished; and the work on AAM SC Theeru started in 2024, is ongoing.
Under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) scheme, 1,830 patients benefitted in 2023-24, while under Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), free transportation was provided to 42 patients, and 2,028 ANC patients availed free diagnostics—(KNO)