J&K has one doctor for 1,880 patients: Govt

‘Efforts on to improve doctor-patient ratio’

Irfan Tramboo

Srinagar, Apr 8: There is one doctor available for treating over 1,800 patients in J&K under the doctor-to-patient ratio, with efforts ongoing through various means to improve it, the Government informed the Legislative Assembly today.
In a written reply to a question that inquired about the existing doctor-patient ratio and the steps taken to improve said ratio in J&K, the Government stated that the present doctor-patient ratio is 1:1880 and that posts are being continuously referred to improve it.
“In order to improve the doctor-patient ratio in the entire J&K, the Health and Medical Education Department is continuously referring the posts of Medical Officer(s), Assistant Professor(s) etc to the recruiting agency viz. J&K Public Service Commission,” Minister In-charge, Health and Medical Education Department replied to the question raised by MLA Wagoora-Kreeri Irfan Hafiz Lone.
The Government further informed that the H&ME Department has recently appointed 365 Medical Officers and 105 Assistant Professors.
Besides, the reply stated, in order to supplement the availability, the services of doctors/specialists are availed under the National Health Mission on a contractual basis.
“As of now 96 Specialists, 418 Medical Officers (Allopathic) and 874 Medical Officers (Ayush) under National Health Mission are discharging their services in the entire Jammu and Kashmir,” the Government stated.
As per IPHS norms, the Government stated, the staff required for PHC/NTPHC/SC is already in place; however, it noted that there is no provision for Specialists at the PHC level.
Informing about the number of health institutions in the Wagoora-Kreeri Constituency, the Government listed 17 such operational facilities, which include CHC Krreeri, PHC Kalantra, PHC Shrakwara, NTPHC K. Muqam, NTPHC Nowpora, NTPHC Dudbug, SC Bulgam, SC Authoora, SC Chinned, SC Wagoora, SC Shaikhpora, SC Sherpora, SC Sultanpora, SC Walraman, SC Tangwari Bala, SC Waripora Bala and SC Nilser.
Regarding the facilities being provided at these centres to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare, the reply stated that free screening for Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) such as Diabetes, Hypertension, and Cancers (Oral, Breast, Cervical) is being done.
Additionally, it stated, essential medicines and diagnostics — with 175 drugs and 39 diagnostics at PHCs and 96 drugs and 14 diagnostics at SCs — are also available free of cost.
On another question regarding the construction of additional floors (G2) in SDH/CHC Kreeri and the upgradation of Sub-Centre Wagoora to the level of NTPHC, the H&ME Department stated that the administrative approval for construction of additional floors (G2) has already been accorded to the R&B Department and tendering is in progress.
Regarding the upgradation, the Government stressed that the Sub-Centre Wagoora to the level of NTPHC does not fulfill the IPHS norms.
The reply detailed that the population of village Wagoora is 3,000 souls and the population of the adjoining area is 7,000 souls, and other healthcare facilities cater to the population as well — SDH Kreeri, PHC Sharkwara, and PHC Kalantra — which are at distances of 4.5 km, 3.2 km, and 6 km respectively from SC Wagoora.

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