Patient care affected as non-gazetted employees of 5 new GMC’s continue indefinite strike over recruitment rules

Srinagar: Patient care was affected at five newly established Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) in Jammu and Kashmir as non-gazetted employees continued their indefinite strike over the delay in finalising and notifying Recruitment/Service Rules.

Employees of GMC Anantnag, Baramulla, Rajouri, Doda and Kathua held protests and demonstrations within their respective institutional premises, demanding clarity on their service conditions and a defined mechanism for recruitment, promotions and career progression.

The employees began the indefinite agitation on August 17 and said the prolonged delay in framing the rules has hampered the recruitment process and left existing staff without adequate promotional avenues.

At GMC Baramulla, protesting employees said the institution was already facing a shortage of manpower, while the expansion of medical and academic services had placed an additional burden on the existing workforce.

They said there are already 150 MBBS seats, 50 PG seats, BSc courses, renal dialysis and radiology courses. This is an additional burden on the already overburdened staff at GMCs.

They said the issue was not limited to their individual service conditions, arguing that inadequate staffing could directly affect the functioning and delivery of healthcare services.

The employees said expanding a medical college could not be limited to infrastructure, beds and equipment, as every new service required trained manpower to operate it effectively.

“Every new service requires trained manpower to operate it. Without adequate staffing, even newly established sections and equipment can’t achieve their full potential,” they said.

The protesting employees said the government was yet to establish a clear recruitment and promotion mechanism for non-gazetted staff, resulting in uncertainty over career progression and future prospects.

According to the employees, the Health and Medical Education Department had placed draft Recruitment Rules for the five new GMCs in the public domain in August last year, but no further progress had been made towards their finalisation and notification.

They said more than 3,000 posts for the five new GMCs were created through a Cabinet decision and subsequently sanctioned vide Order No. 575-HME of 2017 dated October 23, 2017.

The employees, who were appointed through the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) after the establishment of the new GMCs, also alleged that several staff members had resigned due to the absence of promotional avenues and stagnant salaries.

According to them, the attrition has further affected the functioning of the institutions, which are simultaneously expanding their academic and clinical services.

The employees have appealed to the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, the Minister for Health and Medical Education and senior officials of the JKHME Department to intervene and initiate meaningful dialogue with their representatives.

They said their demand was for the finalisation and notification of the Recruitment/Service Rules to ensure clarity over service conditions, promotional opportunities and career progression.

The employees reiterated that their indefinite peaceful protest would continue until the authorities provide a concrete and satisfactory response.