Directorate Health Services Jammu must repatriate Doctors overstaying deputation in Govt Medical College and its associated Hospitals of Jammu District continuing on deputation basis without any official extension order

As per deputation rule, XVIII, the period of deputation in any case should not exceed three years, it may, however be extended further by one year on the request of borrowing agency but in any case the total period of deputation shall not exceed a period of 4 years at a time.
Many Doctors “manage” to be attached with or be ”on deputation” to hospitals and health institutions in cities although “shown” as serving rural posting. Such cases, though not generalized, should be scanned meticulously and any period of such proxy stay should be deducted from the rural tenure and the concerned Doctor made to complete it
GY CORRESPONDENT
Srinagar, July 10
The continuance of deputation system in Directorate of Health Services Jammu has resulted in non-availability of specialists doctors and para medical staff and Medical Professionals in rural areas which results in poor health services in rural areas as specialist doctors instead of serving in rural areas prefer to work in urban areas on deputation basis when the govt should have asked doctors to work in places where they are posted after completion of deputation period. If the doctors try to avoid their original postings and their rural duties, they must face the consequences, which may include their salaries being withheld or losing their jobs. Moreover political representatives should not entertain such recommendations regarding postings and deputations themselves. Although those doctors are posted in the rural areas including villages and smaller districts, they utilize their influences for getting a recommendation for additional posts in capital cities. To ensure that the doctors join their duty at the places of their posting, Govt should abolish the system of deputation” for doctors in J&K. These doctors, however, draw their salaries from their original postings. To put the things in right perspective, there are hundreds of doctors/Consultants who are working on deputation basis at Govt Medical College and hospitals and its associated hospitals for many years when their original postings are in rural areas. To quote few examples Dr Vivek Kumar Rishi(DM Neurology) was placed on deputation basis at Super Speciality Hospital Jammu on inter-cadre deputation basis vide order No. 444-HME of 2014 dated 28-7-2014. Since then he has been working on deputation basis. Dr Hardeep Kumar (Consultant Neurology) was placed as consultant in GMC Jammu on inter cadre deputation and work in the department of Neurology vide Govt order No. 521-HME of 2016 dated 23-9-2016 and since then he is also on deputation basis. Similarly Dr Surinder Kumar (Consultant Neurology) was placed on deputation to Super Speciality Hospital Jammu on Ex-cadre basis for a period of two years vide order No.322-JK(IIME) of 2022 dated 19-5-2022. This has been disclosed in a RTI reply vide order No.HME-GRS/26/2022-02(7371626) dated 26-2-2024.
It deserves mentioning here that these Doctors continuing on deputation basis without any official extension order and also without any order of competent authority drawing salary from Super Speciality Hospital where they are on deputation basis. Worthwhile to mention here that as per deputation rule,XVIII, the period of deputation in any case should not exceed three years,it may, however be extended further by one year on the request of borrowing agency but in any case the total period of deputation shall not exceed a period of 4 years at a time. It is highly surprising to note that why Health department has not taken serious cognizance of over stay of these doctors on deputation basis and why they were not posted back at the places of original postings. Similarly several Doctors have been working on deputation basis for more than five years continuously at Super Speciality Hospital Jammu , CTVS, Neurology, Blood Bank, Medical officer, Radiology, Nephrology, cardiology and other associated hospitals Medical College Jammu in different departments. It is unfortunate that due to half hearted efforts of the concerned planners in the UT Health Department that the areas which need the services of our Doctors the most, are still crying for the same. These are our rural areas, far flung areas and mountainous areas – as if health related problems of the inhabitants in these areas is no one’s concern. It is astonishing that despite increase in the number of Medical Colleges , more medical seats arranged and more opportunities and infrastructure created for the medical education sector in getting a boost and resulting in rolling out of more Doctors, on the ground, however, there appears to be little change. On the contrary, we have confirmed reports that many doctors “manage” to be attached with or be ”on deputation” to hospitals and health institutions in cities although “shown” as serving rural posting. Such cases, though not generalized, should be scanned meticulously and any period of such proxy stay should be deducted from the rural tenure and the concerned Doctor made to complete it. We cannot let our rural areas to be left to fend for themselves in getting the medical facilities almost right at their doorsteps.