270 Assistant Surgeon, 1,590 Paramedics posts vacant in Kashmir: Minister

Srinagar: Kashmir's healthcare infrastructure seems to be struggling with operational challenges, with over 1,800 positions of Assistant Surgeons and Paramedics currently lying vacant, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday.

While responding to queries raised by MLA Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani over the availability of healthcare professionals, the Minister revealed that 270 posts of Assistant Surgeons and 1,590 posts of paramedics remain unfilled in the Kashmir Division.

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“Out of the total sanctioned strength of 1,736 Assistant Surgeons, 1,466 are in position and 270 are lying vacant in Kashmir. Regarding paramedical staff, out of the 4,218 sanctioned strength, 2,628 are in position and 1,590 are vacant,” said Itoo.

The data has raised concerns over the shortage of staff in hospitals and health centres across the region. Acknowledging the gap, the Minister stated that the department had made appointments in the last two years to address the issue.

The minister said that the vacancies of medical officers filled during the last two years by way of appointment include 52 appointments in 2023 and 226 appointments in 2024.

Apart from this, the government is also in the process of establishing dialysis units at all Community Health Centres (CHCs) as confirmed by the Minister. She added that dialysis units will be established at the CHCs of Magam and Beerwah (in Budgam district) in a phased manner.

“The upgradation of health centres/institutes is taken up in accordance with the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) norms. Feasibility reports are sought from concerned quarters, and if the reports are in sync with the IPHS norms, proposals will be considered,” she said as reported by Kashmir Life.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the Jammu and Kashmir government informed the Assembly that nearly 550 medical officer positions are vacant in the Union Territory, with the recruitment process for 181 medical officers currently underway, according to Minister of Agriculture Production Javed Ahmed Dar.

Dar informed the House that the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission was carrying out the process of recruiting 181 medical officers. Once selected, these officers will be posted in health institutions facing severe staff shortages.

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