Kupwara, Oct 3: The Health and Medical Education Department has been criticized for failing to fill vacant posts under the National Health Mission (NHM) in Kupwara District despite receiving the status of vacancies from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) a year ago.
The CMO had provided detailed information on various vacant positions in hospitals across the district to higher authorities, but so far, no action has been taken, leaving healthcare services in the border district severely understaffed.
In September last year, the CMO Kupwara submitted the list of vacant positions to the department, but no steps have been initiated to recruit staff. As a result, the people of Kupwara continue to suffer from the lack of medical officers and specialists in several healthcare facilities, particularly in remote and border areas.
According to available data, seven posts of Medical Officers (MBBS) were recommended for Primary Health Centers (PHCs) in Keren, Machil, and Lalpora, Sub-District Hospitals (SDHs) in Kupwara and Tangdar, and District Hospital Kupwara.
Similarly, key positions like Consultant Physicians under NPHCE at District Hospital Handwara, Specialist Cardiologists, General Physicians, and Ayush Medical Officers in various PHCs have also remained vacant.
The CMO submitted the list to the Health and Medical Education Department including vital posts such as District Monitoring and Evaluation Officers at DHQ Kupwara.
The continued staff shortage in the district’s hospitals has led to resentment among residents. Many have expressed frustration with the authorities for neglecting the district, particularly since Kupwara is a border district requiring adequate medical staffing.
Residents are now urging the government to prioritize the recruitment process and immediately fill the vacant posts to improve healthcare services in the district, which remains deprived of necessary medical attention.
