Srinagar Aug 22: Over 260 posts are lying vacant at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) Soura which has been “affecting” the healthcare of the premier hospital of the valley.
Valley’s healthcare is largely dependent on SKIMS Soura, which the government, according to reports, has decided to be renamed as ‘Kashmir Institute of Medical Science’ (KIMS) Soura.
However, according to official details available with Morning Kashmir, over 260 posts are lying vacant at SKIMS. Among the vacant posts, over 110 are professors, assistant professors, and additional professors.
In the Biochemistry Department, most of the posts are lying vacant.
“Many more faculty members are retiring within a few months. There will be an acute shortage of faculty members in coming months,” a senior official said.
The official said there are complaints that health care is being hit due to shortage of staff. “It seems higher authorities are not making the government aware about the shortage of staff. Patients have to wait in queues for hours as there is a dearth of doctors,” the official added.
He said the hygiene is not properly maintained.
Established in 1982, Kashmir health care is largely dependent on SKIMS where thousands of people visit daily for the treatment. Annually, the SKIMS Soura receives over 11 lakh patients.
As per the official figures, five to eight patients die daily at SKIMS Soura.
The premier health institute of Kashmir is many times running short of medical supplies.
“My uncle was admitted to SKIMS last month. We had to purchase every medicine including Metrogyl and Pantop injections besides syringes from the market. We were told all these drugs are not available at the SKIMS,” an attendant of a patient said. He said people across the Valley are not meeting the basic requirement at the SKIMS Soura and are receiving treatment far below than the national average.
An official of the SKIMS said they receive referrals from all districts of the valley.
The hospital authorities attribute the increase in deaths with increase in patient rush. “The hospital is catering to a large number of patients from across the Valley, many are often referred to the hospital at critical stages,” the official said. Director SKIMS Soura could not be contacted for the comments.
