120-bedded new block of B&J Hospital gets 64 posts to operationalise fully

Srinagar, Apr 5: Towards augmenting the healthcare delivery at Bones & Joints Hospital (B&J Hospital) here, J&K Government on Sunday created 64 new posts at the hospital to make the recently inaugurated 120-bedded additional block fully functional. Health and Medical Education Minister, Sakina Itoo, announced the decision.

In her post on X, Itoo wrote, “While services were initially managed through internal arrangements, I am pleased to announce that, with the concurrence of the Finance Department and approval of the Council of Ministers, 64 posts have now been created for the hospital.” She said the completion and inauguration of the block was fast-tracked “under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, with directions issued the same day to ensure immediate operationalisation”.

The Health Minister said the move reflects the government’s commitment to “not only creating new infrastructure but also ensuring that healthcare facilities remain fully staffed and accessible to the public”. Medical fraternity has lauded the step as a major one and “shining as a stark contrast to many other additional blocks that were created without creating augmentative human resource positions.”

A senior healthcare administrator contrasted the additional block of B&J Hospital with additional blocks of Lal Ded Hospital and new State Cancer Institute. “These facilities were created with additional bed capacity but with no additional manpower, which defeats the purpose of tertiary healthcare delivery, and in a way worsens outcomes for patients,” he said.

The sanctioned posts include doctors, technicians, nurses, administrative staff and support personnel to strengthen healthcare delivery at the facility. As per details shared by the minister, the new positions include 10 Senior Resident positions. Of these, four are in Orthopaedics, one in Medicine, one in Surgery, three in Radiology and one in Microbiology. In addition, three Resident Medical Officers and three Casualty Medical Officers positions have also been sanctioned. For administrative staff, one Accountant, one Accounts Assistant, one Head Assistant, two Section Officers and two Junior Assistants. Technical staff have been created. In technical areas, four Anaesthesia Technicians, two Theatre Assistants, one Blood Bank Technician, one Lab Technician, two Lab Assistants, one Senior Physiotherapist, two X-Ray Technicians, one Chief X-Ray Technician and one ECG Technician have been created. The critical Nursing staff has also been sanctioned: two Theatre Nurses, two Senior Grade Nurses, nine Junior Grade Nurses, one Lady Health Visitor. Support staff that has been created includes Laundry Supervisor, one DG Operator and one Senior Plumber, one Blood Bank Attendant, one Anaesthesia Boy, one Theatre Anaesthesia Attendant, one Plaster Boy, one Physio Boy and four Nursing Orderlies.