Srinagar/Jammu, Jan 8, KDC: A staggering 87,791 patients from Jammu and Kashmir sought OPD treatment at PGI Chandigarh in 2024, reveals the official data.
According to the details, in 2023, around 60,000 J&K patients visited PGI Chandigarh, while in 2022, the figure hovered near 50,000. The 2024 count of nearly 87,791 patients visits reflects a steep jump.
Officials said that additionally 3,110 patients from the UT of Jammu and Kashmir required indoor (in-patient) admission, a number that has remained steady in the 3,000–4,000 range over the last three years.
Officials tod news agency Kashmir Dot Com that 4,837 posts are lying vacant in the nine Government Medical Colleges of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The vacancies include 573 in GMC Srinagar, GMC Anantnag: 192, GMC Baramulla: 163, 356 in GMC Handwara, 1761 in GMC Jammu, GMC Kathua: 349, GMC Doda: 292, GMC Rajouri: 191 and GMC Udhampur: 960.
In the Directorates of Health Services of both Jammu and Kashmir, 5,718 posts are lying vacant.
In the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, a total of 3,738 posts are lying vacant that includes 8 medical and 179 paramedical posts in Srinagar, Ganderbal: 30 and 180, Budgam: 41 and 954, Pulwama: 36 and 274, Baramulla: 97 and 356, Bandipora: 19 and 110, Kulgam: 32 and 288, Shopian: 10 and 100, Anantnag: 46 and 364 and 161 and 453 in Kupwara.
Similarly, in the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu, 1,980 posts remain vacant. The breakup includes Jammu: 79, Doda: 64 medical and 89 paramedical, Kathua: 96 and 125, Kishtwar: 38 and 75, Ramban: 48 and 67, Rajouri: 85 and 171, Reasi: 55 and 72, Poonch: 100 and 142, Samba: 56 and 98 and 54 and 96 in Udhampur.
The outflow of patients from Kashmir is largely attributed shortage of specialists, vacant faculty posts, and uneven tertiary care services. The patients who preferred to visit outside Jammu and Kashmir are those battling cancer, cardiac disease, liver and kidney disorders, and other critical illnesses.
Over the past decade, J&K has witnessed a major boost in medical infrastructures, with the establishment’s of AIIMS and the launch of new Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Kashmir and Jammu divisions. The expansion was expected to reduce dependence on outside institutions like PGI Chandigarh and AIIMS Delhi. However, data suggests the opposite trend, with patient numbers rising sharply every year. (KDC)
