Srinagar, July 13: Despite offering 100 MBBS seats since 2023, Government Medical College Handwara is grappling with a severe manpower shortage, which has adversely affected patient care and medical education, leaving the hospital struggling to provide quality treatment.Senior officials at the medical college said there is shortage of vital faculty positions as per the sanctioned and vacant positions as of June 2025:The Anatomy Department has four sanctioned posts, out of which only one assistant professor is in place. The department lacks both a professor and an associate professor, leaving it with three faculty vacancies that hinder teaching and lab-based anatomy instruction.In the Physiology Department, out of three sanctioned posts, two are vacant. The department has only one assistant professor, while the posts of professor and associate professor remain unfilled, affecting the department’s ability to run full-fledged physiology labs and lectures.Similarly, the Biochemistry Department is comparatively better staffed, with all three positions sanctioned and two filled—a professor’s post remains vacant. An associate and assistant professor are in place to handle teaching and diagnostics.As per the official details, the Pharmacology Department is fully staffed at the associate and assistant professor levels with only the professor’s post vacant. The presence of experienced teaching faculty supports pharmacological education despite the missing senior post.The medical college’s Microbiology Department is short of key faculty, with only one assistant professor in place. Out of four sanctioned posts, three—including professor and associate professor—are vacant, limiting capacity in diagnostics and infection control training.In the Pathology Department, among seven sanctioned posts, four are filled, while three—including the professor’s post—remain vacant.In the Forensic Medicine Department with three sanctioned posts, the department has filled two—associate and assistant professors—while the professor’s post is still vacant. The limited staffing may strain medico-legal responsibilities and teaching.Similarly, the Hospital Administration Department is operating with only one assistant professor in place out of four sanctioned posts. All senior faculty positions are vacant, which is a major gap for managing and teaching healthcare systems administration.In ENT Department has one assistant professor in place. Both senior faculty posts—professor and associate professor—are vacant, impacting specialty surgical and academics.Like ENT, Ophthalmology has only one assistant professor, with professor and associate professor posts lying vacant. This staffing inadequacy restricts comprehensive training in eye care and surgery.PSM (Community Medicine) Department is relatively well-staffed with three faculty members in place, including a professor and two assistant professors. One associate professor’s position remains vacant.In the Gynaecology Department, out of seven sanctioned positions, only two assistant professors are in place. The department lacks a professor and both associate professors, raising concerns about clinical training and obstetric care delivery.In the Surgery Department, with eight sanctioned posts, five are filled. A professor, one associate professor, and three assistant professors are currently serving, but one post at each designation remains vacant.The Medicine Department is struggling with key vacancies—only three assistant professors are in place out of seven posts. It lacks both a professor and associate professors.The Pediatrics Department is faring better, with both assistant professor posts filled. However, senior faculty—professor and associate professor—positions are vacant, impacting mentorship and advanced care delivery.Likewise, the Orthopaedics Department has four sanctioned posts, and three are filled. The only vacant position is that of an associate professor, leaving the team fairly stable.In the Anesthesia Department, out of six sanctioned faculty positions, four are filled. The department has a professor, one associate professor, and two assistant professors. However, it still has one vacancy each at the associate and assistant professor levels.The faculty shortage extends further—only the Assistant Professor post is filled in the Dermatology Department, while the Professor and Associate Professor positions remain vacant, leaving a significant gap in academic leadership.The Psychiatry Department too faces a critical staffing shortage, with all three sanctioned positions—professor, associate professor, and assistant professor—vacant. It lacks any in-place faculty to run academic or clinical services.In the PMR (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation) Department both sanctioned posts—associate professor and assistant professor—are vacant.Lastly, in the Dentistry Department, out of three posts, only the assistant professor’s position is filled. The professor and associate professor posts remain vacant, affecting advanced dental care and instruction.
