SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Friday informed the Legislative Assembly that some healthcare institutions across the Union Territory are facing shortages of medical and paramedical staff, but said measures are being taken to ensure uninterrupted healthcare services.
Replying to a question raised by MLA Salman Ali Sagar, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said the extent of staff shortages varies among institutions depending on sanctioned strength, vacancies, functional requirements and service delivery needs.
The minister said the department regularly monitors manpower availability across healthcare institutions and is undertaking rational deployment of available staff to meet service requirements.
She told the House that doctors, nurses and paramedical personnel are being adjusted among institutions based on patient load, institutional needs, availability of specialised services and overall public health requirements.
According to Itoo, the government is taking steps to ensure that manpower constraints do not adversely affect healthcare delivery.
Addressing a query regarding Srinagar district, the minister said health services are functioning smoothly and any shortages are being supplemented through deployment and engagement of personnel under the National Health Mission (NHM), wherever permissible.
She said there has been no adverse impact on healthcare delivery in Srinagar district due to staff shortages.
Responding to concerns about manpower at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Itoo said healthcare services at the tertiary care institution are operating normally.
The minister said available staff are being utilised optimally and vacancies are being addressed through recruitment and other permissible arrangements to ensure continuity of patient care.
She reiterated that the government remains focused on strengthening healthcare services through recruitment, rational deployment of staff, NHM engagements and other measures aimed at addressing manpower gaps across Jammu and Kashmir.