Health Ministry Report exposes urgent staffing needs in J&K’s Urban Health Centres

Srinagar, Oct 18: Urban healthcare facilities in Jammu and Kashmir are struggling with significant staff shortages, including a lack of doctors and nurses, according to the Health Dynamics of India (Infrastructure & Human Resources) 2022-23 report by the Union Ministry of Health.
The report indicates that urban Primary Health Centres (PHCs) have a sanctioned strength of 213 health workers and Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs), but only 193 positions are filled, leaving 20 vacancies. In terms of medical officers, the urban hospitals have a total of 168 sanctioned positions, of which 133 are occupied, resulting in 35 vacancies.
Additionally, urban PHCs are short of specialist doctors, with 164 sanctioned positions but only 117 filled, leaving 47 vacant posts. Similar to rural facilities, urban hospitals also face a shortage of anaesthetists; there are 35 sanctioned positions, of which only 26 are filled.
Community Health Centres (CHCs) in urban areas are also experiencing doctor shortages. They have a sanctioned strength of 345 general medical officers, but only 276 are in position, leaving 69 posts vacant. Furthermore, urban CHCs have 78 sanctioned radiographer positions, with 61 filled and 17 remaining unoccupied.
The shortage extends to pharmacists, with 106 sanctioned posts in urban PHCs, of which 94 are filled, resulting in 12 vacancies. Laboratory technicians are also in short supply, as urban PHCs have an official strength of 64, with 58 filled and six vacant. In urban CHCs, there are 156 sanctioned posts for laboratory technicians, with 135 filled and 21 remaining unoccupied.
The report highlights a notable shortage of nursing staff in urban PHCs, with 126 sanctioned posts, of which 101 are filled and 25 vacant. In urban CHCs, there are 393 sanctioned nursing posts, with only 321 filled, leaving 72 vacancies.
Policymakers emphasize that this report is crucial for decision-making, policy intervention, and monitoring the status of public health infrastructure and human resources in India.