'Govt not considering upgradation of PHCs, adhoc hiring in health sector'

Srinagar, Oct 31: Minister Incharge Health, Sakina Itoo on Friday ruled out any proposal for upgrading Primary Health Centres (PHCs) or engaging staff on an ad hoc basis, citing the already extensive network of health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.

In a written reply to clubbed Assembly questions from legislators Mir Saifullah, Dr Rajiv Kumar Bhagat, Peerzada Feroz Ahmad, and Chander Prakash Ganga, the Minister said J&K has more than 4,000 health institutions at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels, among the highest in India in proportion to population.

“As of now, J&K is working on the consolidation of existing health facilities,” the reply stated. It cited a 2023 report of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, which found that the UT has one health institution for every 3,500 people, against the national average of 6,000.

While acknowledging “critical gaps,” the Minister said the department is strengthening facilities “strictly as per IPHS 2022 norms.” He said telemedicine access is being expanded under the e-Sanjeevani programme through a hub-and-spoke model to address healthcare gaps in remote areas. “As such, the department is presently not considering upgrading PHCs to the next level,” the Minister added.

The reply further noted that as per IPHS norms, districts with a population of up to 20 lakh can have one district hospital and two sub-district hospitals. “In J&K, there are already more sub-district hospitals than permissible under IPHS 2022,” it said.

On the issue of staff shortage, the Minister said engaging employees under hospital development funds or through other temporary modes is not permissible. “Finance Department Order No. 43-F of 2015 imposes a complete ban on ad hoc, consolidated, need-based, and other temporary engagements in government departments and autonomous bodies,” the reply stated.

Earlier, the government had informed the House that the Health and Medical Education Department has 7,285 vacancies — including 5,300 non-gazetted and 1,985 gazetted posts — accounting for nearly one-third of the total 17,953 vacant positions in J&K.