J&K Doctors, Paramedics to report back to original place of job posting

Srinagar: The Health and Medical Education department of Jammu and Kashmir has issued an order cancelling all attachments of doctors/ paramedical staff. The order states that the step has been taken to ensure better healthcare facilities for the general public and to streamline the healthcare facilities in rural areas. 

The order was issued by the Principal Secretary J&K Health and Medical Education (HME) Department Manoj Kumar Dwivedi. 

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The circular, as reported in the Greater Kashmir, states, "All the attachment of doctors, paramedics which have been made by all the Head of the Departments including Chief Medical Officers, ADMOS and Block Medical Officers or any other officer at their level from time to time are hereby cancelled with immediate effect and they shall report back to their original place of postings."

Further, it notes, "The concerned Head of the Departments are directed to submit compliance reports in this regard latest by August 1, 2022, without any fail. Besides, all the concerned DDOS are also directed not to draw the salary of any doctors, paramedics attached in their jurisdiction, henceforth."

The order directed the attached doctors/paramedics will report back to their original place of postings and ordered the Head of the Department to submit a compliance report in this regard latest by August 1, 2022, without any fail. 

The department has asked the concerned Drawing and Disbursement Officers (DDOs) not to draw the salary of any doctors/paramedics attached in their jurisdiction, observing that, "This will ensure better healthcare facilities to the general public and restore healthcare facilities in the rural areas."

Around 600 paramedics and 150 doctors are attached at various levels in Jammu and Kashmir, and the exact number will be known after the compliance report is submitted to the Health and Medical Education Department by Monday or Tuesday. Many doctors in J&K were originally posted in faraway regions, but have been attached to the district headquarters or offices in the city. Thus, the original positions assigned to the doctors remain vacant. According to officials, the majority of these doctors do not want to serve in far-flung areas and have been attached to hospitals in cities and towns, reports the Hindustan Times.

In a tweet, Dwivedi stated, "It will not only be implemented. DDOs, who will draw the salary of attached employees, will also be penalised. Besides, HODs will be personally answerable. We need to have a total no-nonsense approach towards public service." Further, he wrote, "Service before self is the call of the time. All have some personal and family problems but when we refuse to work where our services are required we make the institutions & public suffer especially those in the periphery and remote areas. Any non-compliance will invite action."

Many sources believe that the detachment of doctors and paramedical staff would help in meeting shortage of the staff in the hospitals of rural and remote areas as it has been reported that those attached in the cities and urban areas were originally posted in rural belt, reports the Daily Excelsior. "People of rural areas will get better healthcare facilities with a detachment of doctors and paramedical staff from urban and city areas," said the source.  

According to a senior officer in the medical education and health department, many doctors, particularly those from privileged families in J&K were attached to far-off hospitals or health centres. The officer said, "This order will force them to go to their original places of posting. In many places, people suffer because doctors do not want to go there and want to serve in towns or cities. This order will streamline things."