Shortage of Doctors and paramedics in Jammu Province chronic issue

Prolonged wait for elective surgeries in Govt hospitals many a times turn into emergencies and the patient has to go to private hospitals where cost needs no mention
On one hand unemployment among Doctors is burgeoning and other hand, vacancies are too glaring to be ignored. The routine scuffle between Doctors and attendants is also fallout of shortage of staff
As per RTI disclosure, in Kashmir division, out of total sanctioned strength of 1467 Medical Officers, 1395 are in place and 72 are vacant. In Jammu division, sanctioned strength of Medical Officers is 1390, 726 are in position and 664 are vacant which is gross injustice with Jammu Division
TR Shastri
Jammu, jul 31
A saying goes that behind every fine Doctor, there is always a Nurse.The shortage of Doctors and paramedics in Jammu Province in particular is a chronic Issue. In a significant move, the DB has issued directions to government to indicate steps taken to fill up the vacancies. The paucity of Doctors and other staff in Institutions dealing with essential Services is a matter of serious concern.It appears that the government has learnt no lessons from Corona pandemic. Entire health care infrastructure was paralysed and crumbled .This was one of the major contributors for large scale deaths.The shortage was acutely felt.The Junior Doctors were overworked and exhausted.Their duties extended by many hours in view of shortfalls. It was expected that due cognizance will be taken and issue will be addressed on priority. But with the receding Corona threat, the priority also receded to background. The government has become complacent and nonchalant .
The shortage affects the daily delivery of services by staff in Medical and health Institutions. A visit to government medical college Jammu as patient or attendant will let one face the enormity of situation. It needs not to explain that a patient reluctantly prefers government health institutions in case of medical emergency or his un affordability. The prolonged wait for elective Surgeries many a times turn into emergencies and the patient has to go to Private hospitals where the cost needs no mention.
It is ironical that on the one hand the unemployment among Doctors is burgeoning and the other hand, the vacancies are too glaring to be ignored. The routine scuffle between Doctors and Attendants is also a fallout of shortage of staff. We cannot always expect decent behaviour and alacrity from an exhausted staff. The PIL is based on information received through RTI that there is shortage of sixty to seventy percent of Doctors and paramedics in several districts of Jammu province.The status in Kashmir is far better in comparison with Jammu which further reveals the disparity and step motherly treatment with Jammu irrespective of who rules. Since the RTI was limited to the department of Health and medical education only ,so the position of other departments is not readily available. Given the shortage of staff in an Institution like health, the vacancies in other departments in Jammu province can be easily presumed. It’s cruel joke with vast army of un employed. As per RTI disclosure,in Kashmir division,out of total sanctioned strength of 1467 medical officers,1395 are in place and 72 are vacant. In Jammu division,sanctioned strength of Medical officers is 1390, 726 are in position and 664 are vacant- a gross injustice with Jammu Division.The position of far flung Districts is a matter of further concern. It is hoped that the Directions of honourable court will fill the gap and patients shall get desired treatment in time.