Srinagar, Nov 13 (KNO): Jammu & Kashmir is facing a severe shortage of manpower in its medical colleges, with nearly half of all faculty and senior resident posts lying vacant in them.
The figures were revealed by the Health & Medical Education Department in a detailed reply submitted to the Estimates Committee of the J&K Assembly.
The reply accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) against 3782 sanctioned posts of faculty and senior residents in Government Medical Colleges and Dental Colleges, only 2022 are in position. As many as 1760 posts are lying vacant.
The two oldest and largest medical institutions of J&K are among the worst affected.
GMC Srinagar has 632 doctors in position against 1,082 sanctioned posts, leaving 450 posts vacant.
Similarly, GMC Jammu has 452 in position against 829 sanctioned posts, leaving 377 posts vacant.
SKIMS Medical College has only 64 in position against 154 sanctioned posts, leaving 90 posts vacant.
The situation in the newly established medical colleges is equally grim.
Among them, GMC Doda is the worst hit, with only 33 doctors in position against 137 sanctioned posts, leaving 104 posts vacant.
GMC Handwara has 89 in position against 202 posts, leaving 113 vacant, while GMC Baramulla has 146 in position against 253 posts, leaving 107 vacant.
As per reply, GMC Anantnag has 179 in position against 283 posts, leaving 104 vacant, while GMC Kathua has 120 in position against 221 posts, leaving 101 vacant.
GMC Udhampur has 97 in position against 203 posts, leaving 106 vacant, while GMC Rajouri has 102 in position against 199 posts, leaving 97 vacant.
The two dental colleges are also facing a shortage.
According to the reply, Government Dental College Srinagar has 58 in position against 74 sanctioned posts, leaving 16 vacant.
Indira Gandhi Government Dental College Jammu has 50 in position against 62 sanctioned posts, leaving 12 vacant.
According to the reply, three colleges have zero faculty in position.
Government Unani Medical College Ganderbal has no faculty against 35 sanctioned posts, Government Ayurvedic Medical College Akhnoor has none against 35 posts, and Government Homoeopathic Medical College Kathua has none against 13 posts—(KNO)