J&K’s medical colleges face manpower shortage

Srinagar, Feb 08: The medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir are facing a severe shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, putting immense pressure on the healthcare system.
As per faculty details, at the newly established GMC Doda, there is a sanctioned strength of 23 professors, out of which only three are in place in the departments of Pharmacology, Dentistry, and Biochemistry, while the rest remain vacant.
Similarly, out of the sanctioned 32 associate professors, only 11 are currently in position. For assistant professors, there is a sanctioned strength of 49, but only 30 are in place, leaving the remaining positions vacant.
Likewise, there are 78 sanctioned senior resident positions, but only 44 are filled, with the rest remaining unoccupied in the Doda Medical College.
GMC Rajouri is also facing manpower deficiencies with around 60 percent of sanctioned posts currently vacant which affects the institution’s functioning.
Officials said departments like general surgery, medicine, paediatric surgery, orthopaedics and other departments that have huge loads must have more manpower.
The newly established GMC Handwara is also facing a manpower shortage in departments such as Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry, adversely affecting patient care.
According to doctors, the government has incentivized GMC Doda and GMC Rajouri by offering extra benefits, making them more attractive for medical professionals.
“If GMC Handwara, which is also in a far off place, had also been incentivized, many more doctors would have chosen to work here,” said a senior doctor.
This acute manpower crisis has directly impacted patient care, leaving hospitals struggling to provide timely and quality treatment.
Government Medical College Baramulla, the only main tertiary care center in North Kashmir, is also facing staff shortage as nearly 50 percent positions are vacant.
Officials said the medical college has no nephrologist, no cardiologist, no neurologist, and there is shortage of orthopedicians, endocrinologists which has affected patients coming from different areas and compelling them to visit Srinagar hospitals.
“We also have a shortage of nurses. We have only 50 percent paramedical staff, which has also overburdened the existing staff,” said a senior doctor at the medical college.
Many employees have retired, further increasing the number of vacant positions, as the Health and Medical Education Department has yet to provide replacements.
Similarly, complaints continue to pour in from GMC Srinagar, the oldest medical college in Kashmir, also faces staff shortage in critical departments which has taken a toll on patient care. GMC Anantnag in south Kashmir also faces a manpower shortage that has not been filled over the years.
In March 2019, some existing medical colleges in J&K lost faculty positions due to lateral entry after the government absorbed faculty members in newly established GMCs.
Doctors said the crisis is attributed to several factors, including delayed recruitment, the reluctance of specialists to serve in remote areas, and the migration of trained professionals to private hospitals or other states offering better pay and working conditions.
An official from the Health and Medical Education Department said the requisite manpower requirements have been sent to the Public Service Commission for doctors and to the J&KSSRB for paramedical staff.
“It will take time for the medical colleges to get the required manpower to run healthcare services and medical education properly,” he said.
He also acknowledged the challenges faced by existing staff due to heavy workload and assured that efforts are being made to expedite the recruitment process. With patient inflow increasing, delays in filling vacancies continue to put immense strain on the healthcare system.
On Feb 05, the Divisional Bench (DB) of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court expressed concern over acute shortage of Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, Consultants, and paramedical staff across rural and remote hospitals.