J&K: Recruitment to 343 posts for new 500 bedded pediatric hospital delayed

Srinagar: The newly launched 500-bedded Pediatric Hospital in Bemina has as many as 343 posts lying vacant in the hospital. The recruitment process has not yet started.

The new pediatric hospital was built in order to reduce the overload of patients on GB Pant Hospital since it had only 200 beds for many years.

The newly launched hospital has many departments including Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Ophthalmology, Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Surgery, Pediatric Hematology, Pediatric Orthopedics, Pediatric Surgery, and Pediatric Nutrition.

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The Health and Medical Education department has referred 343 posts to the recruiting agencies two years ago.

With the expansion of the new hospital to 500 beds, additional recruitments are needed to run the hospital smoothly. The 343 posts were meant to be filled earlier but the process has yet to be started. The posts include medical officers, faculty, nurses, paramedics, and other categories.

According to a senior official at the hospital, it would have been wise to recruit the additional staff member before starting the Pediatric Hospital.

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The official told Greater Kashmir, "The GB Pant Hospital that has been functioning as Children Hospital for over a decade is a 200 bedded facility. When the pediatric facility is expanded to 500 beds, we need additional staff the run the augmented beds."

The hospital has not yet completed the shifting process. The shifting process will take time and is expected to be completed within May this year.

"The staff at GB Pant Hospital is likewise not optimal given the sheer volume of patients. It will be damaging to patients if the hospital is relocated without additional staff," the official added.

When asked about the recruitment of staff, Additional Chief Secretary J&K Government, Vivek Bhardwaj said a week ago "We are hoping that the recruitment would be expedited by J&K Public Service Commission and J&K SSB."