‎J&K health sector faces shortage of 12,614 doctors, paramedics

Srinagar, Sept 24 : The Jammu and Kashmir health sector is facing a shortage of 12,614 medical and paramedical personnel, with 2,891 posts of doctors and 9,723 posts of paramedics and nurses lying vacant across health institutions in the Union Territory, the government has informed the Legislative Assembly.
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‎The figures were disclosed in a written reply to a starred question by MLA Agha Syed Muntazir Mehdi regarding the status of vacant posts in the health sector.
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‎According to the Health and Medical Education Department, the vacancies include 2,891 posts of medical officers and 9,723 posts of paramedics and nurses.
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‎The government said efforts were underway to bridge the staffing gaps through regular appointments as well as temporary arrangements.
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‎It said that 416 Medical Officers selected through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) had been received by the department. Appointment orders for 335 candidates had already been issued, while the remaining cases were under process.
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‎The department further said 1,567 paramedical and non-gazetted posts had been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for selection of suitable candidates.
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‎“Pending regular appointments, the Department continues to manage staffing gaps through interim arrangements, including engagement of personnel under the National Health Mission (NHM) and on academic arrangement basis, wherever feasible and administratively permissible,” the government said.
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‎The department has listed sanctioned posts and staff in position across major health institutions, including SKIMS, Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, Directorate of AYUSH, Government Medical Colleges and associated institutions.
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‎The figures show that the staffing shortage remains a major issue for the health system even as the government has initiated recruitment against a portion of the vacant positions.
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‎The government also said the process of filling the vacancies would continue through the regular recruitment mechanism and interim arrangements would be used where required to manage the existing manpower gaps.(KNS)