Jammu, Jan 9 — Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Thursday directed health authorities to urgently fill vacant posts of doctors, specialists and paramedics and remove delays in their appointments and postings across Jammu and Kashmir.
Chairing a review meeting at the Civil Secretariat, Itoo said hospitals were suffering because sanctioned posts were not being referred on time for recruitment.
“Vacant posts must be referred without delay so that shortages of doctors, paramedics and support staff are addressed,” the minister said.
Officials briefed her on the number of sanctioned posts, existing vacancies and the status of recruitment being processed through various agencies in Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) and the Health Department.
Itoo said delays in appointments and postings were hurting patient care, especially in remote areas.
“Cancel all attachments of doctors and paramedics and post them in areas facing acute staff shortage,” she directed.
She asked Principals of all GMCs and Directors of Health Services in Jammu and Kashmir to assess their manpower needs and prepare posting plans accordingly.
“Specialists must be sent where they are needed the most,” she said, directing officers to rationalise staff to fill gaps in far-flung and underserved areas.
The minister also told GMC Principals to finalise recruitment rules quickly so that hiring of doctors, nurses and other staff does not get stalled.
During the meeting, Itoo also reviewed de-addiction and rehabilitation services in the region and called drug abuse a serious public health issue.
“Victims of substance abuse must be identified early and given medical, psychological and social support,” she said.
She asked officials to expand counselling services, improve infrastructure at de-addiction centres and increase awareness programmes.
Reaffirming the government’s focus on healthcare delivery, Itoo said timely recruitment and better staffing of hospitals were essential to improve patient care across Jammu and Kashmir, especially in peripheral areas.