J&K Health Minister admits shortage of Doctors, ‘Over the years buildings have been constructed without necessary equipment and manpower’
Ishtiyaq Kar
Srinagar, July 09 (KINS): Health Minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday acknowledged the shortage of doctors and medical staff in Jammu and Kashmir, stating that the challenges in the healthcare system cannot be resolved overnight.
However, she reaffirmed that the government led by Omar Abdullah is fully committed to improving healthcare delivery across the Union Territory.
“When there have been no doctors or medical assistants for the past six years, you cannot expect everything to be fixed in just eight months,” the minister said, while speaking to media persons in Baramulla, as reported by news agency KINS.
Highlighting the initiatives taken by the Omar Abdullah-led government, she said, “Once the Omar government assumed office, it immediately issued 309 appointment orders to those who completed their degrees to ensure better patient care and accessibility.”
The Health Minister further revealed that 110 new appointment orders have recently been issued to strengthen the medical workforce. “Through the Services Selection Board (SSB), we are getting consultant-level appointments, and we are trying our best to bring these consultants into active service,” she added.
She pointed out that while infrastructure up- gradation was undertaken in the past, the lack of staff creation, equipment, and other vital support had rendered many health facilities underutilized. “Buildings were constructed, but without necessary equipment and manpower”
Calling for collective efforts, the Minister urged all stakeholders to support the government’s healthcare mission. “We want to provide the best possible healthcare to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. For that, we need a strong foundation, adequate staff, fully equipped facilities, and above all, public support.”
Her remarks came in response to a reporter’s question about the ongoing operational challenges in health services across several remote areas of the region, primarily due to a shortage of specialists.(KINS)
