Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Dec 3: Over 600 doctors in Kashmir are un-authorisedly absent from duty for the past several years and Government has not taken action against them even as there is crisis of the doctors in the hospitals across Kashmir.
Director Heath Services Kashmir, Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman, admitted that hospitals are running short of manpower. “There are more than 600 in service doctors absent from the duty in Kashmir,” he added.
The Director said that there are 1471 doctors registered with the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir out of whom only 902 are available for duty while rest of them are absent. Ninety doctors of the DHSK are unauthorisedly outside country, 29 are outside the department, 68 are in Medical Colleges, 353 doing registrarship and 87 are migrant.
There is not only dearth of doctors in the hospitals across the State but also that of para-medics. The Government is shielding these absentees and has not taken any decision against them.
According to official documents, in North Kashmir’s Baramulla, Kupwara and Bandipora districts, there are around 66 posts of Assistant Surgeons, 57 posts of specialists, 86 posts of Nurses / FMPHW/ANMS and 159 posts of paramedics vacant.
The documents revealed that in South Kashmir’s Shopian, Pulwama, Kulgam and Anantnag districts, almost 72 Assistant Surgeons, 55 specialists and 62 paramedical posts are vacant.
In Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, which is also Chief Minister’s constituency, 15 posts of Assistant Surgeons, six specialists, seven Nurses / FMPHW/ANMS and 26 paramedical posts are vacant.
The documents pointed out that in district Srinagar four posts of specialists, one post of paramedics and four posts of Nurses / FMPHW/ANMS are vacant. And in central Kashmir’s Budgam district, 129 posts are vacant.
The documents said 202 posts are lying vacant in Jammu district, including 28 posts of assistant surgeons, 16 posts of dental surgeons and 53 posts of paramedics.
In Kathua district, 70 posts of assistant surgeons, 29 dental surgeons, nine specialists, 52 Nurses / FMPHW/ANMS, 91 paramedics and 84 class IV posts are vacant.
In Udhampur district, there are around 36 posts of assistant surgeons, four dental surgeons, 67 Nurses / FMPHW/ANMS, four specialists and 14 paramedics lying vacant. In Doda district, around 103 posts are vacant.
The Director Health Services Kashmir said that there are many doctors un-necessary sitting in Medical colleges from last 20 years, who are not willing to move to rural areas. “The rules suggested that deputation period should not exceed 3 years”, he added.
When asked about un-authorised absence of doctors who are outside the country, the Director said: “We have sent show cause notice to 90 doctors. If they don’t return within stipulated period, the department make fresh recruitments at their place.”
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