Govt sits on sanctioning doctors, paramedic posts for upcoming Bemina Pediatric Hospital

While pediatric hospital at Bemina here is nearing completion, the state government is yet to sanction the required staff, including doctors and paramedics for making the much-awaited facility functional on time.

After 14 years of wait, the government recently announcedthe upcoming hospital building at Bemina would be converted into a full-fledgedpediatric hospital for Kashmir.

   

The civil works on the project are targeted for completionby December 2019, while deadline for making the hospital functional is February2020.

Although the announcement of the full-fledged pediatricfacility, the only one in Kashmir having children population of around 30 lakh,was hailed, no additional posts have however been sanctioned for the hospital.

The Bemina hospital will have 300 beds more than theexisting GB Pant Children Hospital which has capacity of 200 beds.

A senior pediatrician said in absence of required staff, thehealthcare will be a casualty at the new hospital.

“When number of beds increases, and the staff remains thesame, it results in over-stretching of human resource and healthcare deliverytakes a hit,” he said.

While citing example of Lal Ded Hospital, the doctor said,in absence of allocation of additional staff including doctors, nurses andparamedics, the existing staff at Lal Ded was being forced to take care of 200additional beds added to the hospital a few years ago. “Is that advancement inhealthcare delivery?” he asked.

An official in Health and Medical Education Department saidthe Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar has long back submitted aproposal for additional doctors, including faculty for the new hospital.

In addition, the College had also submitted proposal forparamedic, technician, nursing staff, administrative and ministerial staff tothe department.

“But we are yet to get clearance from the government. Oncewe have concurrence on additional financial implication of the project by thedepartment (finance) and Council (State Administrative Council), then only canthese posts be made available for recruitment,” he said.

Principal GMC Prof Kaiser Ahmed said the upcoming hospitalwill be on “fast track” basis. “The government has asked us to submit a freshproposal in view of this massive increase in pediatric bed capacity,” he saidadding they have kept the proposal ready.

Prof Ahmad asserted that hundreds of posts of doctors,paramedics, nurses and other staff will be advertised and filled soon.

He added the government had already approved the committeethat will monitor the project implementation and its timely completion. “Ameeting of the committee will be held on the upcoming hospital in a few days,”he said.

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