SKIMS faces staff shortage amid rising patient footfall: Govt

Jammu and Kashmir government has said that patient load at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Srinagar—UT’s premier medical and research institution—is increasing with each passing day and shortage of staff is a major challenge.

This was revealed by Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo in reply to a question posed by MLA Tanvir Sadiq in the Legislative Assembly.

“The issue has been raised with concerned recruitment agencies. Furthermore H&ME Department recently notified the Recruitment Rules-2025 pertaining to SKIMS, which will pave the way for promotion of staff in different categories and will create further vacancies at entry level,” the minister said.

Sadiq had asked if the healthcare infrastructure in Srinagar was under severe stress as SKIMS, SMHS (Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital, Srinagar), and JLNM (Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Hospital) hospitals in Valley were witnessing a sharp rise in patient inflow. He had also asked about the steps being taken to expand and strengthen healthcare facilities in Srinagar with specific reference to availability of adequate staff and infrastructure.

Responding to his queries, the minister said SMHS has a footfall of 3,500 patients on daily basis in causalty, OPD and IPD.

“It is a fact that the healthcare infrastructure is under severe stress in Government Hospital, Srinagar. The healthcare infrastructure is the first priority of the administration,” the minister said.

Itoo said keeping in view the rise in patient inflow, construction of theatre block and 30-bedded ENT block is underway along with upgradation of medical causality.

Regarding JLNM, the government said the hospital has witnessed a sharp rise in patient inflow, for which infrastructure is being developed by the H&ME Department, as one G 4 additional block is under construction, which shall be completed within a short period of time by the executive agency.

“Moreover, the CT scan has been installed recently. As far as the manpower is concerned, almost all sanctioned posts of consultants, medical officers are filled, but some posts of paramedics are lying vacant in this hospital. However, such shortage is being compensated by the manpower provided under NHM,” she said.