Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNO): As many as 2,891 posts of Medical Officers and 9,723 posts of paramedics and nurses are lying vacant across health institutions in Jammu and Kashmir, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
The figures were shared in response to a query raised by Budgam MLA Aga Syed Muntazir Mehdi regarding the health sector. According to the government reply, 9,723 paramedical and nursing posts are vacant, while 2,891 Medical Officer posts remain unfilled across various health institutions.
The government, as per the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said that pending regular appointments, staffing gaps are being managed 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 further said 416 Medical Officers selected through the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC) have recently been received by the department, of whom appointment orders for 335 candidates have been issued.
It added that 1,567 paramedical/non-gazetted posts have been referred to the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for selection of suitable candidates.
*Reshipora hospital work 70% complete*
On the status of the 125-bedded District Hospital at Reshipora, Budgam, the government said construction work is in progress and around 70 percent physical progress has been achieved.
The project is expected to be completed by the end of financial year 2027-28, subject to availability of funds and timely completion of the remaining works, it said.
The government said rupees 13,217.53 lakh (rupees 132.18 crore) has been released for the project so far, against which rupees 12,336.56 lakh (rupees 123.37 crore) has been spent.
It said Rs 11,106.56 lakh was released during the current financial year, against which an expenditure of Rs 225 lakh has been incurred.
Regarding the 100-bedded Critical Care Unit at Reshipora, the government said work on the AAC block is in progress. The ground and first floors have achieved around 95 percent progress each, while the second floor has reached around 70 percent completion.
Plastering work is around 82 percent complete on the ground floor and 90 percent on the first floor, while work on the second floor is continuing. Tiling, plumbing, fire-fighting and wall-chasing works are also in progress.
The government added that reinforcement cutting and bending for the columns of the third floor is underway.
As per the figures furnished in the reply, SKIMS has 150 vacant Medical Officer posts and 1,216 paramedical/nursing posts. At the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), 967 Medical Officer and 150 paramedical posts are vacant, while the Directorate of Health Services Jammu (DHSJ) has 462 Medical Officer and 2,744 paramedical vacancies.
At the Directorate of Ayush, 55 Medical Officer and 115 paramedical posts are vacant.
Among the government medical colleges, GMC Srinagar has 474 Medical Officer and 531 paramedical/nursing vacancies; GMC Anantnag 107 and 107; GMC Baramulla 62 and 260; and GMC Handwara 134 and 378, respectively.
The figures also include GMC Jammu, with 150 vacant Medical Officer and 1,216 paramedical/nursing posts, while GMC Udhampur has 66 Medical Officer and 1,216 paramedical/nursing vacancies.
GMC Rajouri has 32 Medical Officer and 30 paramedical/nursing vacancies, GMC Kathua 118 and 266, and GMC Doda 114 and 64, respectively.
On study leave, the government said only cases where leave has been formally sanctioned are dealt with under the provisions of the J&K Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1979, along with subsequent amendments and government circulars.
The department further said it verifies eligibility, service particulars, cadre position and public interest before granting permission. It added that conditions relating to stipend adjustment, entries in service books and penalties in case of abandonment of service are enforced in accordance with the applicable rules.—(KNO)