Detachment of medical staff by H&ME Rajiv Gandhi Hospital stir hornet’s nest by issuing public notice on shortage of staff

Jammu: The Health and Medical Education Department’s order for cancellation of all attachments of doctors/paramedical staff in Jammu and Kashmir has become controversy within the department.
The same was highlighted when Medical Superintendent of Government Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Gangyal pasted a public notice of shortage of staff on the hospital’s wall and threw the ball in the court of the higher authorities.
“ This is for the information of the general public that due to shortage of staff,only OPD services and Day Care Services will be made available at Govt.Rajiv Gandhi Hospital and LRPU, Gangyal ,Jammu. Emergency wait/ night duty will not be made available w.e.f 1/08/2022.Routine wait/ Night Emergency Services shall be made available as soon as necessary arrangements are made by the higher authorities,” read the notice embedded at the entrance of the hospital.
It is stated that nearly twenty eight doctors and paramedical staff who were attached in the hospital had been relieved resulting in shortage of staff in the hospital which prompted the Medical Superintendent of the Hospital to paste a public notice on the hospital’s wall. The issue of shortage of staff was later hijacked by the political parties which termed the government’s move as a blow to health services.
Soon after the pasting of the notice, Jammu and Kashmir Pradesh Congress Committee (JKPCC) working president Raman Bhalla visited Government Rajiv Gandhi Hospital & LRPU Gangyal and expressed dismay over withdrawing of specialized services from the said hospital.
Bhalla said it is very unfortunate that the facilities to patients after attached OPDs of Ortho-spine, Neuro Physician and Gastroenterologist have been withdrawn by Directorate of Health Services after starting OPD of Super/Sub Super Specialties at the Government Rajiv Gandhi Hospital & LRPU Gangyal, Jammu. He telephonically asked the Directorate of Health Services to immediately restore specialized services henceforth.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Chairman Sanitation Committee JMC Baldev Singh Billawaria also expressed concern and dismay at the transfer of 28 Health Workers from the Hospital.
Pertinently, Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department Manoj Kumar Dwivedi on July, 29 issued the order in which it was stated that all attachments of doctors/paramedics, which have been made by all Head of the Departments including Chief Medical Officers, ADMOs and Block Medical Officers or any other officer at their own level from time to time have been cancelled with immediate effect.“The attached doctors/paramedics will report back to their original place of postings,” the order issued by Dwivedi said. He directed concerned Head of the Department to submit compliance report in this regard latest by August 1, 2022 without any fails.