SRINAGAR: Minister for Health & Medical Education Sakeena Itoo today informed the Legislative Assembly that there is a shortage of medical and paramedical staff in certain healthcare institutions across Jammu and Kashmir, with the extent varying from institution to institution depending upon sanctioned strength, existing vacancies, functional requirements and service delivery needs.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by MLA Hazratbal Salman Ali Sagar.
Sakeena Itoo informed the House that the Health & Medical Education Department is continuously monitoring the manpower position across healthcare institutions with the objective of ensuring optimum utilisation of available human resources and uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services.
She said that wherever required, available medical and paramedical manpower is being rationally deployed and adjusted among healthcare institutions, keeping in view patient load, functional requirements, institutional needs, availability of specialised services and overall public health requirements.
The Minister stated that the Government is taking necessary measures to ensure that manpower constraints do not adversely affect the delivery of essential healthcare services.
Responding to the specific query regarding the impact of staff shortages on healthcare delivery in District Srinagar, the Minister informed the House that health services across Jammu and Kashmir are presently functioning smoothly.
She said that wherever shortages exist, these are being supplemented through the deployment/engagement of staff under the National Health Mission (NHM), as permissible.
“Consequently, there is no adverse impact on the delivery of healthcare services in District Srinagar,” the Minister informed the House.
On the issue of shortage of doctors, nurses and allied staff at SKIMS, Sakeena Itoo stated that the health services there are running smoothly at present.
The Minister said the available manpower is being utilised optimally, while vacancies are being addressed through recruitment and permissible alternative arrangements to ensure continuity of patient-care services.
The Minister reiterated that the Government remains focused on ensuring the availability of adequate healthcare manpower and strengthening service delivery across Jammu and Kashmir.
She said that the Department is adopting a combination of rational deployment, recruitment, NHM engagement and other permissible arrangements to address manpower gaps and ensure that healthcare institutions continue to provide uninterrupted patient-care services.
