Flags concerns of urban attachments, ‘referral hospitals’
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 5: The Divisional Bench (DB) of the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh High Court here has expressed grave concern over the acute shortage of Medical Officers, Dental Surgeons, Consultants, and Para Medics in health institutions across both Union Territories, particularly in rural and remote areas.
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The court also noted the growing trend of medical professionals from rural areas being transferred or attached to urban centers, exacerbating the health crisis in these underserved regions besides flagging the concern of District Hospitals becoming mere “referral institutions”.
In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by RTI activist Balwinder Singh, the petitioner highlighted the inadequacy of medical services in J&K and Ladakh.
Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed, representing the petitioner, had submitted fourteen well-researched suggestions aimed at improving the healthcare infrastructure, especially in rural areas.
However, despite the passing of over six weeks since these suggestions were submitted, neither the Jammu & Kashmir nor the Ladakh administrations responded to them, raising concerns about the lack of urgency in addressing the issue.
The Division Bench, led by Chief Justice Tashi Rabstan and Justice MA Choudhary, after hearing Advocate Sheikh Shakeel Ahmed along with Advocates Rahul Raina, Supriya Chouhan and M Zulkarnain Choudhary for the petitioners and Senior AAG SS Nanda appearing for UT of J&K and DSGI Vishal Sharma appearing for the UT of Ladakh, expressed dissatisfaction with the inaction of both UTs and emphasized that providing basic healthcare services should be a Government priority, especially in a welfare State.
The court observed that the health crisis in these regions is being treated with “casual indifference,” despite the vital importance of healthcare for the general public.
A status report submitted to the court revealed the extent of the vacancies within the Health department.
In Jammu Division, 664 Medical Officer posts and 2,489 Para Medic positions remain unfilled. In contrast, Kashmir Division faces a shortage of 72 Medical Officers and 2,651 Para Medics.
These vacancies are particularly critical in rural and peripheral areas, where the lack of medical personnel results in insufficient healthcare delivery, leaving people vulnerable and forcing unnecessary referrals to urban hospitals.
The court also raised concerns over the practice of doctors from rural health institutions being transferred or attached to urban centers, leaving rural areas with a shortage of medical professionals.
Taking note of 17 deaths in Badhaal area of Rajouri, the court further observed that it has become a trend with the District Hospitals and Public Health Centers (PHCs) across J&K and Ladakh that they refer even the manageable cases of ailments to Medical Colleges Jammu and Srinagar and other Super Specialty Hospitals, which adds further workload to these institutions.
The court directed the Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh UT administrations to respond to the fourteen suggestions submitted by the petitioner within four weeks, including a detailed plan to address the staffing shortages and improve health services, particularly in rural and remote regions.
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