It is a good idea that the distance from the home of the patient to the Health Centre should be as short as possible. It means that more and more Health Sub-Centres should be opened. But on ground it means that such centres have to be provided with the infrastructure these need in terms of doctors, health attendants, manpower, medicines, equipment, building, sanitation and so many other things, Especially it should have been clear who will pay the salaries and from where? As these questions have remained unanswered, the State Government was constrained to write to the Union Ministry of Health that it would not be possible for the State Government to operationalize 676 Health Sub-Centres in the wake of no infrastructural and other expenditures being provided. On its own the State Government is not having the resources to undertake this scheme.
It has to be known that the number of patients has increased manifold in recent years. The number of patients visiting OPD of the health care centres in J&K has increased from 195.35 lakh to 226.16 lakh per year. As per the official data, 11.18 lakh patients were admitted in the health institutions across the State by ending January during the year 2013-14. Similarly, during the same period, 1.27 lakh major and 4.10 lakh minor surgeries were conducted in these health care institutions.
The shortage of doctors and Para-medical staff is the major hurdle in providing health care. As against the sanctioned strength of 7092 doctors in both Health and Medical Education Department, only 5387 doctors are in service. Similarly, as against the sanctioned strength of 20664 posts of Para-medicals, only 14853 posts have been filled. Similarly, even premier hospitals are deficient of functional machinery needed for medical treatment. This being the situation on the ground, how can the Health Department think of opening a large number of Health Sub-Centres without requisite paraphernalia and infrastructure? J&K State Government cannot be faulted for writing to the Union Health Ministry its inability to implement the scheme of opening additional 676 Health Sub-Centres without necessary financial assistance.
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