Early Times Report
Jammu, Aug 5: Though National Health Mission (NHM) scheme is known the backbone of healthcare system but in Jammu and Kashmir it seems defeated due to lethargy and indifference of government, as few districts are still deprived of specialists services and in others, only 50 percent posts have been filled so far. According to sources, since the scheme was launched in state, the government of India each year has pumped funds into state under the scheme for providing staff to rural as well as urban health institutions on contract basis but the officials of state have failed to utilize the funds properly.
Under the scheme, the state government has failed to fill up sanctioned specialists' posts for Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Shopian despite acute dearth of specialist doctors in these districts. While in others districts where a total of 65 specialists' posts under various disciplines have been sanctioned, only 31 posts have filled by department till date.
"In Gynea department through this scheme 12 specialists posts were sanctioned across Jammu and Kashmir but astoundingly, till date government has filled on six posts and the rest are lying vacant", sources said, adding that only nine post were filled out of 32 posts sanctioned in Pediatrician department across state.
Sources further said that through this scheme government had advertize several specialist posts but due to lackadaisical approach of Mission directorate the process of their recruitment was yet to be started. "Despite having Central Sponsored Scheme in state, the rural health institutions are being run by paramedical staff", sources said, adding that government of India with an aim to launch the scheme across country for providing accessible, affordable and quality health care to rural population and has released crores of rupees to state government.
Principal Secretary to government, Health and Medical Education Department Dr Pawan Kotwal was not available for comments. |
