JAMMU: Public health seems to be least priority of the JKUT Government in the far-flung areas as at least five district level posts, 64 posts of doctors and over 139 positions of the para-medical staff are lying vacant in the district Kishtwar for the last several years while 13 Health Centres are without doctors.
Official sources said that charge of all these five district-level posts has been handed over to the Chief Medical Officer, Kishtwar who is already over burdened with the routine work. Interestingly, the post of Chief Medical Officer also remained vacant for about nine months and the new incumbent was posted hardly two months ago after great hue and cry by the local people and the political leaders of the area.
Sources further disclosed that the post of Dy CMO is lying vacant in the district since July 2024 and the District Health Officer (DHO) since August 2023. Similarly, the position of Principal, ANM School, Kishtwar is lying vacant since October 2022; the post of District Tuberculosis Officer since February 2023 while the position of District Immunization Officer (DIO) has been lying vacant since May 2022 in Kishtwar district.
Interestingly, at least 13 Health Centres, including most of New Type Primary Health Centres are without doctors/Medical Officers in the district. These include-New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC), Suzna; NTPHC Cherji, NTPHC Pathshalla, NTPHC Dool and NTPHC Sarthal in Block Kishtwar.
In Medical Block Paddar, NTPHC Sol, NTPHC Gandhari and NTPHC Machail are without doctors. In Chatroo Medical Block NTPHC Sigdi and SHC Chingam are without doctors while in remotest block of Marwah/Dachhan, NTPHC Inshan, NTPHC Basmina and New Type PHC Qaderna are without Medical officer/doctor, forcing patients to rush to the other hospitals away from their villages/homes.
Sources further revealed that out of the total 282 sanctioned posts of Para-medical/non-gazetted staff in the district, 143 are in place while, 139 posts are lying vacant. At present, 20 MBBS and 26 ISM doctors are posted in these blocks.
About 50 % posts of doctors, mostly that of specialists are presently lying vacant in District Hospital, Kishtwar. Out of the total sanctioned strength of 140 posts of doctors in the entire district, 64 are lying vacant and only 76 Medicos are in place. There are many hospitals/ health centers/ sub centres in the district where posts of doctors are lying vacant since long. If the doctors are placed there, they manage their posting either at district hospital, at Jammu or any other suitable place.
They further said that many youth from this remote Kishtwar district have managed MBBS and MD seats after obtaining RBA and Very Difficult Area/Hard Area certificates. But majority of them have managed their postings in Jammu, leaving their own people to suffer. The Government must frame a policy forcing them to serve in their own areas for at least 10 to 15 years from where they have obtained RBA benefit in getting MBBS/MD seats. Similar is the position in Doda, Ramban, Rajouri and Poonch districts, the sources added.
They said out of the 18 sanctioned posts of ambulance drivers, 12 are in place. There are 13 ambulances on the road in the district, while remotest CHC Nowpachi (Marwah) is still without an ambulance and a driver, despite repeated requests by the local leaders of the area.
Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kishtwar, Dr Sanjay Bhat when contacted said that Department has received a new Ambulance for CHC Marwah but RTO registration and insurance process of the vehicle is yet awaited. At least Rs 1.50 lakhs are required for this purpose. He said three posts of drivers are sanctioned for CHC Marwah but these posts are also lying vacant. After registration, the vehicle will be sent to Marwah and private driver with the help of a local NGO will be engaged till the permanent post of the drivers are filled up at Marwah/ Dachhan blocks. He said the issue was also taken up with the Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma.
Responding to a question regarding 50% posts of doctors and para-medical staff lying vacant in the district, the CMO said the Directorate of Health Services Jammu had sought a detail regarding sanctioned/vacant/ in-place posts of doctors and non-gazetted/ para-medical staff in Kishtwar district and that detail was forwarded to them in the recent past. Now, it is on the part of higher authorities to forward the posts for the recruitment to the concerned recruiting agencies, Dr Bhat said.
Director, Health Services Jammu, Dr Poonam Sethi did not respond despite several calls, however, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma said that matter came to his notice through public delegations and also the concerned officials. He said that the matter was taken up with the Director Health Services Jammu and the Commissioner/ Secretary, Health and Medical Education during recently. They have assured to fill up vacant posts in the district shortly.