RTI confirms administrative lapse: No sanctioned posts of Doctors at Bone & Joint Hospital

Jammu : S Balvinder Singh renowned RTI Activist  of the State, has brought to light a distressing reality that, though hard to believe, is tragically true.The Bone & Joint Hospital which was established on October 16, 2023, was envisioned as a crucial healthcare facility catering to orthopedic patients in Jammu. However, despite the passage of one year and seven months, the institution remains without a sanctioned strength of doctors and paramedical staff. An RTI reply has confirmed that no official posts have been approved, despite repeated proposals sent to the Health & Medical Education Department.

This glaring administrative lapse has forced the hospital to rely on borrowed staff from GMC and its Associated Hospitals, which are themselves struggling with an acute shortage of medical personnel. Such an arrangement is unsustainable and compromises patient care, as overburdened doctors and paramedics cannot provide the specialized attention required for orthopaedic cases. The absence of dedicated staff undermines the hospital’s efficiency, leading to delays in treatment and increased patient suffering. . An RTI reply has confirmed that no official posts have been approved, despite a proposal for 299 posts being submitted by the Principal, Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu to the Administrative Department of Health & Medical Education. The sanctioning of these posts is still awaited.

So the RTI Activist urge upon the Government to  immediately sanction the required posts to ensure the hospital functions optimally. A well-equipped Bone & Joint Hospital is essential for the region, and its continued dependence on borrowed staff is unacceptable. Authorities must act swiftly to rectify this oversight and provide adequate staffing to uphold healthcare standards.