J&K Politicians Meet LG, Highlight ‘Dismal’ Condition of Hospitals

Srinagar: A delegation of senior Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) politicians submitted a memorandum to lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday highlighting the “dismal” condition of hospitals in the Union Territory, especially the acute “staff deficit and inadequate infrastructure” at the premier Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS).

A delegation led by National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah and comprising CPI(M) Central Committee member and former MLA MY Tarigami and PDP organisational general secretary and former state minister Mehboob Beg met Sinha at Raj Bhawan and apprised him of the issues faced by SKIMS after the revocation of its autonomy earlier this year.

The delegation said that the institute is beset with practical difficulties, which has affected patient care and its overall functioning. 

“The recent decision of the government to divest SKIMS of its autonomous status has had an adverse effect on its decision-making process,” the memorandum read. 

The autonomy of the institute, established in 1976 and formally inaugurated on December 5, 1982, with an initial bed capacity of 250, was revoked in February.

The move was widely criticised by regional political parties, who had warned that such “interference” will “weaken” the institute’s functioning.  

SKIMS, the only medical university headed by a director, also comprises the state cancer institute, maternity hospital, nursing college, paramedical college and an affiliated medical college and hospital in Srinagar. 

The leaders said that the institute has a staff shortage with hundreds of slots at various levels—medical, paramedic and administrative—vacant. 

“There is a 50% shortage of all technical and nursing staff. Recruitment has not been conducted for the last seven years. As of date, 1,201 posts of different categories, including 115 faculty positions, 149 gazetted posts, 870 non-gazetted and 67 positions of senior and junior residents are vacant,” the statement read. 

Tarigami highlighted the staff shortage to a TV channel after meeting Sinha. “No recruitment has been done for the last seven years despite a 50% shortage of nursing staff,” he said.

According to the leaders, the institute's gynecology hospital faces acute space constraints. There is also a lack of adequate medical infrastructure and many older equipment are out of order. 

In July, the administration directed the institute, which recruited directly, to refer recruitment to agencies like Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and Jammu and Kashmir Service Selection Board.

“The shortage of manpower has not only placed additional strain on the existing staff at SKIMS and other hospitals but also raises concerns over the quality of care being provided to patients. Moreover, the lack of crucial equipment stymies patient care,” the memorandum read.  

The leaders said that other premier hospitals are also facing similar issues. “Hundreds of posts are vacant in SMHS, Srinagar, and Children’s Hospital, Bemina. The top floor of the ward building of Bone and Joint Hospital, Barzulla, the only such hospital in Kashmir, was damaged in a fire in 2022, but the hospital continues to operate out of the same building,” the leaders said.