Srinagar, Sep 25 (KNO): Over 26 years after the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Thanamandi in Rajouri was upgraded to a Community Health Centre (CHC), the institution is still awaiting the creation of 24 additional posts proposed to strengthen its manpower.
The issue came up in the Assembly in response to a question raised by Thanamandi MLA Muzaffar Iqbal Khan regarding the availability of doctors and paramedical staff in health institutions in the area.
In its reply, the Health and Medical Education Department, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said PHC Thanamandi was upgraded to a CHC in 1999 through Government Order No. 30-HME of 1999 dated February 2, 1999.
The department said a proposal for the creation of 24 posts across various categories on a bare-minimum basis has been submitted to the Finance Department. The proposal carries an annual financial implication of Rs 225.76 lakh, and approval is still awaited.
The MLA had also sought details about staffing deficiencies at health institutions in Thanamandi and adjoining areas, including PHCs Dodasan, Lah, Manjakote and Gambhir Mughlan, besides NTPHC Dhoke.
The government said doctors are currently available at PHC Manjakote and PHC Gambhir Mughlan and added that the department is continuously monitoring staffing at peripheral health institutions.
It stated that vacancies, wherever they exist, would be filled shortly in view of the availability of a fresh selection list of 416 Medical Officers. Appointment orders have already been issued to 335 Medical Officers, who are being posted on priority to peripheral, far-flung and underserved health institutions facing acute shortages, subject to the availability of sanctioned vacant posts.
On paramedical and non-gazetted staff shortages, the government said 292 vacant posts under Family Welfare, MCH and Immunisation programmes across J&K, along with 290 vacant non-gazetted and paramedical posts under the Directorate of Health Services Jammu, have been referred to the J&K Services Selection Board (JKSSB) for recruitment.
It added that recruitment for various other posts, including paramedical categories under the Health and Medical Education Department, is also underway through the JKSSB.
Additionally, 839 non-gazetted posts and 261 MTS/Class-IV posts in Jammu Division are under examination in the Administrative Department and are proposed to be referred to the JKSSB after obtaining the required concurrence from the Finance Department.
The government said recruitment measures have been initiated to address manpower gaps across healthcare institutions. However, the proposed strengthening of CHC Thanamandi remains contingent on financial approval, with the creation of the 24 additional posts still pending—(KNO)