70 such posts created for upcoming COVID hospitals
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 19: Even though temporary and in the middle of a pandemic, the Government has created nearly 70 posts of Medical Officers (MOs) which are going to include the Dental Surgeons for the first time in the last 12 years.
The posts have been created for the COVID hospitals that are going to come up in Srinagar as well as in Jammu keeping in view a surge in the COVID cases with existing hospitals facing pressure amid a dearth of manpower.
With regard to the Dental Surgeons, there has been no post creation particularly for them in the last 12 years anywhere in the peripheries in J&K with a result the oral healthcare across the UT has taken a giant hit.
However, the move of creating posts of Medical Officers in the twin upcoming hospitals in Srinagar, Jammu for which only those with MBBS used to be eligible and this time over, including the Dental Surgeons as well has been welcomed by the medical fraternity.
Notably, there is already a file lying pending with the Health Department regarding the creation of the posts of Dental Surgeons in the peripheries to take care of the oral health. However, the file is lying pending for the last over three years now. The file has been doing rounds of the Health and Finance Departments but to no avail.
Pertinent to mention here that the twin hospitals are coming up in Srinagar and Jammu in collaboration with the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), Ministry of Defence, Government of India with 1366 posts, 683 posts each at Srinagar and Jammu to be created.
Out of 1366 posts, 35 posts of Medical Officers (MBBS, ISM and Dental Surgeons) each at Jammu and Srinagar hospital have also been created. As per the directives, the posts are to be created for three years and will be filled up initially for one year.
Dr Imtiyaz Banday, President, Society of Dental Surgeons (J&K) while welcoming the move told Excelsior that the COVID Management is multi diversified at the front line and community level and the Dental Surgeons have been working in as I/C Sampling, Contact Tracing, Control Rooms, COVID Triage, Surveillance and Data Compilation.
“Adding more unemployed Dental Surgeons to the overburdened staff shall be a big boon for improved services and relief for the taxed Health Care Workers,” he said.
He also added that they also want the creation of Dental Surgeon posts in Peripheral Hospitals without any further delay. “For that, the file is already lying pending for more than 6 years now,” he said.
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