Vijay Charak
Early Times Report
Jammu, Dec 20: It has been over a decade since the National Health Mission (NHM) scheme was launched in state but astoundingly till date government has failed to sanction posts of specialists under the scheme for remote districts. NHM is known as the backbone of state's healthcare system but in Jammu and Kashmir it seems defeated due to lethargy of the successive governments.
According to sources, since the launch of the scheme in state, the government of India each year has pumped funds for providing staff to rural as well as urban health institutions on contract basis but concerned have failed to utilize the funds properly as they could not sanction specialists' posts to the district Ramban, Reasi, Samba, Bandipora, Ganderbal and Shopian despite acute dearth of specialist doctors in these districts.
In others districts where a total of 65 specialists posts under various disciplines were sanctioned but surprising only 31 posts were actually 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", sources said, adding that only nine post were filled out of 32 specialist posts sanctioned in Pediatrician department across state, out of Sources further said that through this scheme government has advertised several specialist posts but due to lackadaisical approach of Mission directorate the process of their recruitment was yet to be start.
"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 has released crores of rupees to state government to run the health institutions as per Indian Standard. Repeated calls to Mission Director NHM, Bupinder Kumar Could not evoke any response from him. |
