Jammu, Feb 4: The public healthcare system in Jammu and Kashmir is facing an acute manpower shortage, with nearly 10,000 posts lying vacant across health institutions and government medical colleges, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The information was provided in response to a question raised by newly elected Budgam MLA Aga Muntazir Mehdi. Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo acknowledged the large-scale vacancies and said the government is actively working to expedite the recruitment process to fill all sanctioned posts.
As per the details shared in the House, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu has 538 gazetted and 904 non-gazetted vacant posts, while GMC Srinagar is short of 434 gazetted and 174 non-gazetted staff.
GMC Baramulla has 431 vacancies out of a sanctioned strength of 1,304, while GMC Anantnag has 424 vacant postsagainst 1,098 sanctioned positions. GMC Rajouri is facing a shortage of 125 faculty posts, and GMC Udhampur has 668 vacancies out of 799 sanctioned posts.
The Family Welfare Department has 573 vacant posts out of 2,276 sanctioned positions.
The Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir (DHSK)—the primary healthcare provider in rural Kashmir—is struggling with 388 gazetted and 2,797 non-gazetted vacancies, severely impacting primary and secondary healthcare services across the Valley.
Similarly, the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu (DHSJ) is grappling with 1,489 vacant posts, the House was informed.
Minister Sakeena Itoo said filling these vacancies could provide significant relief to the healthcare system while also creating employment opportunities for thousands of unemployed youth in the Union Territory.
