Jammu, Jan 6: Contrary to the tall claims of health department of making great strides in healthcare facilities, there is acute dearth of nurses in majority of health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir.
 Sources informed Greater Kashmir that there was shortage of around 820 staff nurses in various health institutions across the state. The shortage of paramedics, especially nurses, was adversely affecting the healthcare institutions.
 “The existing strength was unable to cope up with the increasing number of patients and leading to repeated scuffles in some of the health institutions”, a paramedic told Greater Kashmir.
 If sources are to be believed the situation is similar in Kashmir as well as in Jammu regions where majority of the institutions were facing shortage of staff nurses and other paramedical staff.
 Sources said that SMGS Hospital Jammu was facing shortage of around 187 nurses. “Against the sanctioned strength of 320 staff nurses, the hospital has only 133 nurses managing all chores in various wards”, sources said adding, “Recently 30 nurses joined the hospital but they were also being shifted to Super-Specialty Hospital”.
 “Yes there is shortage of around 820 staff nurses in various health institutions across the state”, admitted Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma. Acknowledging the shortage, the minister said that the government was well aware about the problem and every possible effort was being made to overcome it.
 He said the government is also contemplating to enhance the intake capacity of all Ancillary Medical Training (AMT) Schools across the state so that more people can get trained there.
 “Presently we have 12 AMTs across state and we are mulling to enhance the intake capacity of each AMT by 20 students, which will help fill the posts of staff nurses in various health institutions,” the minister said.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Jan 2013 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 6 Jan 2013 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 7 Jan 2013 00:00:00 IST