365 medical officers appointed in Nov ’24, says Health Minister

Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the Legislative Assembly that the government is upgrading the existing healthcare infrastructure and facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.

The minister said this while replying to a starred question raised by Shagun Parihar in the Legislative Assembly.

The minister said that, at present, District Hospital Kishtwar is functioning as 100-bed hospital and an additional 100-bed hospital building is under construction adjoining the existing IPD Block of the district hospital.

While speaking on the trauma centre in Kashmir district hospital, the minister said that a designated trauma care centre nearest to Kishtwar is situated at Thathri at a distance of 30 km.

She informed that all the trauma cases are being handled by the emergency room of Kishtwar district hospital where all specialist doctors and paramedics are posted for handling the emergencies 24x7.

The minister further informed the House that currently, Kishtwar district hospital has 11 consultants, eight medical officers and two dental surgeons besides other paramedical staff.

The minister remarked that the department has fast-tracked the recruitment process of doctor and medical professionals. She highlighted that in November 2024, 365 persons were appointed Medical Officers in the J&K Health and Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services, who have been posted in the far-flung/peripheral healthcare facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.

She also informed that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist in respect of 91 selected Medical Officers, whose services would also be utilised in the under-served areas across J&K.

Moreover, the minister informed that 181 posts of Medical Officers are still to be received from Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and upon receiving these selections, the selected doctors would be posted in the health institutions experiencing staff shortages.