Baramulla, May 13 (KNO): The indefinite strike by non-gazetted employees at Government Medical College Baramulla continued for third running day on Wednesday.
Protesting staff, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) intensified their agitation over the long-pending demand for framing of recruitment rules and resolution of promotion-related issues.
The employees said that despite several years having passed since the establishment of the new Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, the authorities have failed to finalise recruitment rules, leaving hundreds of employees without career progression, promotions and other service benefits.
According to the employees, the delay has not only affected the workforce but has also severely impacted the functioning of the institution, which is witnessing increasing patient load and expansion of academic as well as healthcare services.
The employees stated that nearly 50% of the sanctioned posts at GMC Baramulla are lying vacant. They said that out of the total 541 sanctioned posts, a large number remain unfilled due to the absence of proper recruitment rules. “These posts were originally sanctioned for 100 MBBS seats and a 300-bedded associated hospital. Over the years, the MBBS intake has increased to 150 seats, while nearly 200 additional hospital beds have also been added. However, staff strength has not increased proportionately,” the employees said.
They added that GMC Baramulla has now evolved into a major tertiary healthcare institution catering to patients from multiple districts of North Kashmir, resulting in a sharp increase in patient inflow and workload on the existing staff.
“Several new departments and units have been established in recent years, but due to staff shortages, employees are working under immense pressure. In the absence of recruitment rules, vacant posts cannot be filled and promotions of existing staff have also remained stalled,” the employees alleged.
Despite the ongoing strike, the employees said they are continuing to provide essential clinical services in the larger interest of patient care.
“We do not want patients to suffer, therefore we are still managing the clinical part. However, if the government fails to address our genuine demands within the coming days, the clinical staff will be left with no option but to completely boycott duties,” they warned.
The protesting employees further expressed disappointment over what they termed as the “silence” of the administration and the Health Department despite the strike entering its third day.
“It is unfortunate that even after three days of continuous protest, nothing concrete has come either from the administration or from the Health Minister regarding our genuine issues,” they said.
The employees claimed that they have repeatedly approached the authorities through official channels over the past several years, but no meaningful action has been taken so far.
They urged the government to immediately frame recruitment rules on the pattern of Government Medical College Srinagar and Government Medical College Jammu, fill all vacant posts and address the acute staff shortage to ensure smooth functioning of healthcare and academic services at GMC Baramulla and other newly established medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir—(KNO)