The Division Bench of the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh expressed serious concern over the shortage of Medical Officers and paramedical staff in Jammu Province and issued directions to the Government to address the issue of large numbers of vacancies across Jammu and Kashmir.
The data provided by the Government to the court raises serious concerns about the state of healthcare services in the Jammu Division compared to the Kashmir Division. Despite recent openings of new Medical Colleges and plans to open more, the fact that more than fifty per cent of sanctioned vacancies for Medical Officers and a substantial number of Class IV employees remain vacant in almost every district of Jammu Division is alarming. There are several far-flung and hilly areas of districts like Reasi, Poonch, and Ramban where Primary Health centres and Dispensaries face 100 percent shortfalls in vacancies. In such areas, one Medical Officer is expected to handle the medical needs of the sizeable population. This situation raises questions about the Government’s ability to provide quality healthcare to the people, particularly in far-flung areas where the shortage of medical personnel is even more acute. On the other hand, it is surprising that the situation in Kashmir Division is much better, with almost all sanctioned vacancies for Medical Officers being filled except for 72 positions. This stark disparity between the two divisions of the Union Territory indicates a clear neglect of the Jammu Division in terms of healthcare provision. The issue becomes even more critical considering that during the winter months, a significant population from the Kashmir Division and the UT of Ladakh migrates to Jammu Division. It places additional pressure on the already understaffed health institutions in Jammu, making it even more crucial to address the shortage of medical personnel in the region. Repeated claims of the non-availability of staff at various medical facilities by the patients suggest that the authorities might be trying to overlook or downplay the severity of the situation. The situation demands a proper investigation and audit by the Health and Medical Education Department to understand the reasons behind the high number of vacant positions and to fix accountability for such lapses. Addressing the issue of vacant positions and providing adequate healthcare personnel to the understaffed hospitals in Jammu Division should be a priority to ensure the delivery of quality healthcare services to the people in the region. The stark contrast in the vacancy situation between Jammu Division and Kashmir Division, despite having the same recruitment agencies and procedures, does raise concerns about the efficacy of the administrative system in ensuring equal and timely provision of essential services like healthcare. Ideally, a full-fledged department like the Health and Medical Education Department should have effective systems in place to address issues related to vacancies and staffing. Regular monitoring and planning should be done to ensure that vacancies are filled promptly, especially in critical sectors like healthcare.
The proper functioning of Government departments is crucial for the smooth delivery of public services, and it is the responsibility of the administrative authorities to ensure this. The Government should focus on implementing robust systems for workforce planning, recruitment, and monitoring. There should be regular assessments of the staffing requirements in different regions to avoid discrepancies and imbalances. Additionally, the administrative authorities should prioritise transparency and accountability to address issues promptly and proactively. By having effective systems and mechanisms in place, the Government can ensure that essential services like healthcare are not compromised due to prevalent system inefficiencies, and the need for judicial intervention can be minimised. Ultimately, the goal should be to provide quality healthcare services to all citizens, regardless of their geographical location or division within the Union Territory.
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