Srinagar, Mar 17 (KNO): The Jammu and Kashmir government on Monday said it is making concerted efforts to address gaps in the health department and strengthen existing health facilities in line with IPHC norms.
Responding to a question from MLA Daleep Singh Parihar, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakina Itoo, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the department is actively working to resolve the pressing issue of doctor shortages across various healthcare facilities.
"Significant steps are being taken to fill vacancies related to Medical Officers, ensuring that healthcare services are adequately staffed and accessible to the public. Out of the 365 recently appointed Medical Officers, 14 have been posted in District Doda, strengthening the healthcare infrastructure and making medical services more readily available to the local population," she said.
Sakina said 22 doctors are currently working at healthcare institutions such as SDH Bhaderwah, SDH Gandoh, PHC Chinga, Bhella, Bhalla, Prem Nagar, Tapri, and Changa. She said 19 doctors have been supplemented under the National Health Mission (NHM), significantly boosting medical staff at these institutions.
"To further support healthcare services, an additional 37 paramedics and non-gazetted staff members from NHM have been deployed to ensure the healthcare infrastructure is fully supported and that patients receive timely medical attention," she added.
Itoo said the selection process for 181 Medical Officer posts is currently underway with the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC). Once the selection process is complete, the appointed doctors will be posted at health institutions experiencing acute staff shortages, she said.
"Currently, 554 NTPHCs exist across J&K, making the region one of the leaders in health institution density in the country, as per the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare's 2023 report. J&K is focused on consolidating existing health facilities, with more than 4200 institutions at the Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary levels," the health minister said.
"In light of the austerity measures imposed by the Finance Department under Government Order No. 17-F of 2024, dated 15.01.2024, no future creations or upgrades are planned at this time," she added.
The minister said the department's goal is to fill critical gaps and strengthen existing health facilities strictly as per IPHS norms. This includes developing robust e-sanjeevani/tele-medicine facilities through a well-designed hub-and-spoke model. The Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) 2022 norms serve as the benchmark for the creation and upgrading of health facilities, replacing the earlier IPHS 2012 standards.
Responding to MLA Reyaz Ahmad Khan's query, Sakina revealed that SDH Shangus has four sanctioned posts for Medical Officers, all of which are filled, along with two Medical Officers under NHM. Additionally, two posts for Dental Surgeons have been sanctioned and are currently occupied.
"In November 2024, 365 Medical Officers were appointed in the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services. Out of these, 16 were posted in the far-flung and peripheral health institutes of District Anantnag, strengthening healthcare facilities at the grassroots level," she said.
The health minister further said that specialist posts were created for SDH Shangus under Government Order No. 833 HME of 2002, dated 14-08-2002, and Government Order No. 845-HME of 2002, dated 26-08-2002. "However, these specialist posts were later put on hold under Government Order No. 875, dated 06.09.2002," she added—(KNO)