BARAMULLA: The indefinite strike by non-gazetted employees of Government Medical College Baramulla entered its third consecutive day on Wednesday, with protesting employees intensifying their demand for immediate framing of recruitment rules and resolution of long-pending promotion issues.
The employees said that despite several years having passed since the establishment of the new Government Medical Colleges in Jammu and Kashmir, the government has failed to finalise recruitment rules, leaving hundreds of employees without career progression, promotions and revised pay benefits.
According to the protesting employees, the absence of recruitment rules has severely affected the functioning of GMC Baramulla, where nearly 50 percent of posts remain vacant out of the total 541 sanctioned posts.
“These posts were originally sanctioned for 100 MBBS seats and a 300-bedded associated hospital. However, MBBS intake has now increased to 150 seats, while around 200 additional beds have also been added over the years,” the employees said.
They stated that patient inflow has increased significantly as GMC Baramulla is now functioning as a tertiary healthcare institution and several new departments and units have also been established in recent years, leading to increased workload on the existing staff.
The protesting employees further said that due to the non-availability of recruitment rules, vacant posts cannot be filled, while promotions of existing staff have also remained stalled.
“Due to non-availability of recruitment rules, vacant posts cannot be filled. At the same time, no new posts can be created as promotions of existing staff remain stalled,” they said.
Despite the ongoing strike, the employees said they are continuing to manage essential clinical services to ensure that patient care does not suffer.
“We are still managing the clinical part as we do not want patients to suffer. However, if our demands are not fulfilled by the government in the coming days, the clinical staff will completely boycott duties,” they warned.
The employees expressed disappointment over what they described as the administration’s silence despite the strike entering its third day.
“Nothing concrete has come from the administration or the Health Minister regarding our genuine demands,” the protesting employees said.
They stated that they have repeatedly approached the authorities through official channels over the past several years but no concrete action has been taken so far.
The employees urged the government to immediately frame recruitment rules on the pattern of Government Medical College Srinagar and Government Medical College Jammu, fill vacant posts and address staff shortages to ensure smooth functioning of healthcare and academic services at GMC Baramulla and other newly established medical colleges.
