More than 70 doctors in the Kashmir division, who have completed important medical courses like MBBS, MD, and DNB, have been awaiting appointments for the past four months. All of these doctors are currently attached to the Health Directorate, Kashmir, but have not been assigned to any hospital, nor have they been paid their salaries.
According to sources within the Health Department, Kashmir, these doctors were previously in government service and had obtained the necessary permission from the department to pursue postgraduate and super-specialty courses. They were supposed to be reinstated after completing their courses, but currently, these doctors are sitting idle at the Health Directorate.
The attached doctors say that they were told by officials that their list had been sent to the Health and Medical Education Department at the Civil Secretariat for further postings. However, despite repeated assurances, no concrete decision has been taken yet. As a result, they are not only professionally inactive but also facing financial hardship.
Doctors expressed concern that this situation is directly impacting their families. Furthermore, this situation is occurring at a time when many government hospitals in Jammu and Kashmir face a severe shortage of specialist doctors. Despite this, trained and experienced doctors are not being utilized.
Doctors say that ministers and senior officials frequently acknowledge the shortage of specialist doctors, so the question is why available specialists are not being appointed. They have demanded immediate intervention from Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Secretary of the Health and Medical Education Department. The doctors have appealed for immediate postings and the release of pending salaries so that they can continue to serve patients.
