Around 550 posts of medical officers lying vacant in J&K: Minister

Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday said that over 550 posts of medical officers (MOs) are vacant in Jammu and Kashmir with selection of 181 MOs in progress.

This was stated by Agriculture Minister Javed Ahmad Dar, while replying on behalf of the Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Masood Itoo, in the Legislative Assembly.

According to the minister, the department is making sustained efforts to address the ongoing issue of vacancies of medical officers, which presently stands at approximately 550 posts. He added the selection process for 181 medical officer posts is still underway with the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and once the selection process is complete, they will be posted to institutions experiencing severe staff shortage.

He further informed the House that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist for 91 selected medical officers, who will be deployed to under-served areas across the union territory to strengthen the healthcare delivery.

Regarding vacancies of MOs in Baramulla district, the minister informed the House that out of the sanctioned strength of 275 MOs, 219 are in position and 56 are vacant across different medical blocks of the district.

He also stated that out of 365 recently appointed medical officers, 39 have been posted to Baramulla district to address the staff shortage and enhance healthcare services.

The Minister further informed that additional 11 staff members from NHM and 71 from Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), including doctors and paramedics, have been deployed in Baramulla.