Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, on Wednesday stated that around 700-800 para-medical staff posts would be advertised by December 2026 to address their acute shortage besides providing employment opportunities to eligible candidates in the health sector.
Itoo, while responding to media queries after inaugurating a new CT scan machine at SMGS Hospital, Jammu, asserted that the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government was striving hard to improve and strengthen health care services across J&K.
“This commitment finds reflection in the appointment of around 900 new doctors by the J&K Public Service Commission (JKPSC). Of them, 500 have been given appointment letters by the Chief Minister, while 400 others, too referred to PSC, have been selected. They will be sent to far-off places after their appointment once the CID verification process gets completed,” she said.
She informed that the process for the recruitment of 700-800 posts of para-medical staff too was underway to provide better healthcare facilities to the patients across J&K.
“I’ve held several meetings with the JKPSC chairman and he has informed me that by December this year, those posts will be advertised,” Itoo stated.
Earlier she visited the SMGS Hospital, Shalamar and Chest Diseases Hospital, Bakshi Nagar, Jammu where she inaugurated key healthcare and academic infrastructure projects aimed at further strengthening medical services and facilities for the people.
At SMGS Hospital Shalamar, Health Minister inaugurated a newly installed 160-Multi Slice CT Scan machine, which is expected to significantly enhance the diagnostic capabilities of the hospital and facilitate timely and advanced medical investigations for patients. The CT Scan Machine has been installed at a cost of Rs 8.30 Cr.
Speaking on the occasion, Sakeena Itoo said that the newly inaugurated CT Scan machine would greatly benefit the general public who cannot afford the facilities of private hospitals and reduce the rush of other hospitals. Besides, it will help to control the referral system.
The Minister said that the government was committed to providing better, accessible and quality healthcare facilities to the people of Jammu and Kashmir. She emphasised that strengthening of medical infrastructure and upgrading hospital facilities remained key priorities of the government.
Sakeena Itoo said that, in response to the long-pending demand of the people of Jammu and adjoining areas for a CT Scan machine, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had issued special directions to address the requirement. With the installation of the machine, the longstanding demand has finally been fulfilled, providing a much-needed diagnostic facility to the people.
She said that an MRI Machine, already sanctioned for SMGS Hospital, would be installed within the next two or three months. She also urged the health authorities to ensure proper cleanliness and hygiene across the hospital premises for the convenience and well-being of patients and attendants.
MLA, Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi also accompanied the minister during the visit to SMGS Hospital.
At Chest Diseases Hospital Jammu, the Minister inaugurated the new academic complex at Chest Diseases Hospital, Bakshi Nagar. The project is completed at a cost of Rs 8. 93 Cr.
The newly inaugurated medical and academic facilities were dedicated to the students and the public at large, reflecting the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare and medical education infrastructure and ensuring that modern facilities were made available for the benefit of the people.
The Minister reiterated that the government would continue to undertake measures for upgrading healthcare infrastructure and providing modern medical facilities to the public, with the objective of ensuring better, efficient and patient-centric healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir.
MLA Jammu West, Arvind Gupta and MLA Jammu East, Yudhvir Sethi, also accompanied the Minister and expressed their gratitude to him for fulfilling the demands of the people. They also expressed hope that the government would consider and address all pending issues related to healthcare facilities on a priority basis.
Principal, GMC Jammu, Dr Ashutosh Gupta, briefed the Minister about the infrastructural development activities at GMC Jammu and its associated hospitals, as well as the patient care services, through a PowerPoint presentation.
The Minister also asked the media fraternity to highlight any issues faced by patients in the hospital only after verifying the facts, as spreading unverified information could create a wrong narrative in the public domain and harm the reputation of doctors and hospital staff.
She appreciated GMC Jammu for securing 105th rank across the country, stating that this achievement was possible due to the dedicated services rendered by the doctors. She also stressed the need for doctors and paramedical staff to ensure accountability in providing quality patient care.
Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Poonam Sethi; Medical Superintendent, SMGS Hospital, Jammu, Prof, (Dr) Dara Singh; Medical Superintendent, Chest Diseases Hospital, Jammu, Dr Rakesh Kumar Sharma; Deputy Director, Health Services (Hqr) Jammu, Harbaksh Singh; CMO Jammu, Dr Narinder Bhutyal Heads of Departments (HoDs); faculty members; Medical Superintendents; officers and staff of GMC Jammu and other Associated Hospitals of Jammu were present during the Minister’s visits.
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