Jammu, March 25: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) Kangan, Mian Meher Ali raised a starred question in the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly regarding the employment crisis faced by Dental Surgeons and the vacancies in the medical and paramedical sectors across the Union Territory.
He sought details from the government on the total number of unemployed Dental Surgeons in J&K, highlighting that approximately 5,603 qualified professionals remain without jobs. Ali demanded a district-wise breakdown of vacant posts in the Medical and Paramedical sectors, pressing for immediate action to fill the gaps in healthcare services.
According to official data provided by the Health & Medical Education Department, the total number of vacant positions for doctors in Jammu division stands at 980, while medical staff vacancies amount to 2,937. In Kashmir division, there are 420 doctor vacancies and 1,574 positions for medical staff lying unfilled.
The district-wise breakdown reveals alarming numbers in major districts: Jammu district alone has 627 vacancies for medical staff and 72 vacant posts for doctors. Srinagar has 121 medical staff vacancies, with 20 unfilled doctor posts.
Kupwara reports 310 medical staff vacancies and 101 doctor posts unfilled. Rajouri and Anantnag have 376 and 310 medical staff vacancies, respectively.
MLA Meher Ali said that while thousands of trained professionals remain jobless, the healthcare sector continues to struggle with staff shortages, impacting patient care across J&K. He urged the government to expedite recruitment processes and create new job opportunities for unemployed Dental Surgeons and other healthcare professionals.
In response, the Minister Incharge of Health & Medical Education Department acknowledged the issue and assured the House that steps are being taken to address the shortage. However, no specific timeline for recruitment was provided.
The matter has sparked widespread discussion among healthcare professionals and job seekers, with demands for an urgent employment policy to bridge the gap between qualified personnel and vacant posts in the medical sector.
