| Amid staff scarcity at existing hospitals, AIIMS looks a distant dream | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Apr 26: At a time when the government here is beating trumpet of giving AIIMS to Jammu and Kashmir Valley, the existing hospitals in the twin capitals are facing a severe staff scarcity, bellying the claims of better heath sector in the state.
Official documents in possession of Early Times reveal that Rs 700 crore budget for the SKIMS Srinagar is pending since 2013. It has affected the construction of a SKIMS maternity hospital, geriatrics department, genetics centre, and new OPD and Emergency blocks.
As per reports coming to fore, the fund and staff paucity at the SKIMS has led to virtual breakdown of this premier health institute with its expansion plan halted for indefinite period.
As far as Jammu division of the state is concerned, the hospitals here too are facing similar crises. When the existing healthcare system in the state is reeling under absolute chaos, one wonders how can government show dreams of AIIMS to the people of the state.
The documents reveal that the sanctioned strength of the staff at GMC Jammu is 5222 and that the posts lying vacant since years are 1847 in number.
The faculty posts sanctioned are 391 and out of that number mere 228 have been filled and 163 are lying vacant. The staff strength sanctioned under the category of 'Other Gazetted' is 459. This number pertinently was approved by the government to get filled. However, till date, there are 19 posts which haven't been filled.
The approved paramedical staff strength sanctioned is 933. Out of 933, there are 423 such posts that haven't been filled.
In Ministerial staff category, the sanctioned strength is 284. There are 136 posts of such nature lying vacant with no action being taken to fill these posts that otherwise would have ensured betterment in the services being provided to common people by the government.
Furthermore, there are 535 posts of nursing staff that haven't been filled. These posts are vacant in GMC. The sanctioned strength of the nursing staff at the health institute is 1475. However, there were mere 940 posts filled while leaving 535 posts of such nature vacant. The reason behind such an action continues to remain a mystery.
In Class-IV category, there are 1268 posts sanctioned. However, here as well, there were mere 815 filed and 453 left vacant by the government.
Under 'Safai Wala' category, there are 412 sanctioned posts but here again, mere 294 have been filled and 118 are lying vacant.
Such a blatant non-serious approach of the state authorities towards the Jammu region of the state has proved just one thing; there is no stone being left unturned to make the region crave for the official attention in all fields.
Furthermore, as per the documents, there are no less than 1867 posts of medical staff lying vacant in Government Medical College Jammu with the dispensation acting as a mute spectator with inaction in this regard remains in vogue. |
|
