Children's Hospital Bemina struggles with 344 vacancies

Srinagar, Feb 9: The newly established Children’s Hospital Bemina is facing a daunting staffing dearth, with over 40% of its sanctioned positions remaining unfilled.

Official figures reveal that out of 748 positions approved for the facility, only 404 have been occupied, leaving a staggering 344 vacancies that threaten the quality of pediatric care in Kashmir.

Data obtained from the hospital administration highlights alarming shortages across critical roles, including 15 professors, 13 associate professors, 21 assistant professors, 12 senior residents, and 21 medical officers.

The situation is particularly dire in the General Paediatrics department, where of the 17 sanctioned positions, 7 professors and 6 associate professors are currently vacant. The Pediatric Surgery department is also struggling, with only 1 of 3 assistant professors filled, alongside significant vacancies among senior residents and medical officers.

The staffing shortages extend beyond general paediatrics. In Pediatric Ophthalmology, there is 1 vacant professor and 2 assistant professor positions, while Pediatric Nephrology has only 1 out of 7 filled. Alarmingly, Pediatric Hematology is entirely unstaffed, with all 6 sanctioned positions vacant. Other departments, including microbiology, radiology, and pediatric cardiology, also report complete vacancies.

Moreover, the hospital is not only short on clinical staff but also lacks adequate administrative and allied support, with 10 out of 21 sanctioned positions unoccupied. An RTI response shared by activist MM Shuja reveals that of the 614 sanctioned paramedical and technical staff positions, 252 remain vacant.

Opened in 2022, Children’s Hospital Bemina was designed to enhance pediatric services after the transfer of these services from G B Pant Hospital to the new 500-bed facility. This move aimed to alleviate the burden on Lal Ded Hospital, Kashmir’s primary maternity hospital, which serves patients from across the region. The hospital boasts high-end machinery and specialized pediatric equipment, initially intended for G B Pant Hospital.

Since the transition, officials have noted a significant increase in patient inflow, with many families expressing satisfaction with the upgraded facilities. “We are happy that they shifted the pediatric services to a 500-bedded hospital. This hospital has high-end machinery and has more space,” shared one attendant.

However, the ongoing staffing crisis raises serious concerns about the quality of care and service delivery in an already strained healthcare system.