Srinagar, Sep 30 (KNO): Rajiv Gandhi Hospital in Gangyal, Jammu, has a 50-bed infrastructure, but its upgradation to a Community Health Centre (CHC) or Sub-District Hospital (SDH) is not being considered at present, with the government citing population norms and the availability of other healthcare facilities in the vicinity.
The government informed the Legislative Assembly that although the hospital, which previously functioned as a leprosy hospital, has already been upgraded to a 50-bed capacity, its catchment population of around 45,000 to 50,000 does not meet the criteria for upgradation to CHC or SDH level under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) guidelines.
The government, as reported by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), was responding to Assembly question raised by MLA R.S. Pura Jammu South, Narinder Singh Raina, who sought details about the hospital's present status, its upgradation and the shortage of doctors at SDH R.S. Pura.
In its reply, the Health and Medical Education Department said that options were being explored to optimally utilise the existing infrastructure at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Gangyal.
It said several tertiary- and secondary-level healthcare institutions, including hospitals empanelled under the PMJAY-SEHAT scheme, were already available in the hospital's vicinity.
"However, to optimally utilise the health infrastructure in the best interests of patient care, options to further strengthen the health facilities will be explored," the government stated.
The MLA had also raised concerns over the shortage of doctors at SDH R.S. Pura, which caters to patients from two border constituencies, and sought details of measures being taken to strengthen its manpower and medical facilities to reduce the burden on major hospitals, including Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu.
Responding to the query, the government said SDH R.S. Pura has 18 doctors against 21 sanctioned and permissible posts, leaving three vacancies.
Of the 14 sanctioned posts under the regular establishment, 12 doctors are currently in position, including the Block Medical Officer, consultant surgeon, physician, gynaecologist, anaesthetist and paediatrician, besides medical officers and a dental surgeon.
Additionally, six doctors are working against seven permissible posts under the National Health Mission (NHM), including four Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) doctors.
The government maintained that the available doctors were adequate to provide healthcare services at the institution.
However, it acknowledged vacancies in the paramedical and non-gazetted staff and said recruitment proposals had already been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB).
According to the reply, 292 vacant posts in Family Welfare, Maternal and Child Health (MCH) and Immunization, along with 290 non-gazetted and paramedical posts under the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, have been referred to JKSSB for recruitment.
The selected candidates will be posted against identified vacancies based on assessed manpower requirements, which, the government said, would strengthen healthcare services in staff-deficient areas, including the concerned constituency.
Furthermore, 839 non-gazetted vacancies and 261 Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) posts in Jammu Division are under examination and will be referred to JKSSB after completion of the requisite process and receipt of concurrence from the Finance Department.
The government said the proposed recruitments would further strengthen healthcare services in the region—(KNO)