Doctor, paramedic shortage hits healthcare in Ramban district

Banihal, Feb 27: Major government hospitals in Ramban district are grappling with an acute shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, with only 78 doctors in position against 154 sanctioned posts, severely affecting healthcare delivery and forcing patients to travel outside the district for specialised treatment.

According to official data available with Greater Kashmir, out of 678 sanctioned posts across various health institutions in Ramban district, only 373 have been filled, leaving 305 vacancies — nearly 45 percent of positions unoccupied. The shortage has significantly impacted timely and quality medical care for residents of the mountainous district.

District-Wide Shortage of Specialists

In remote and hilly areas including Banihal, Khari-Mahoo-Mangit, Ramsoo, Neel , Ukhral-Pogal Paristan, Ramban, Batote, Rajgarh and Gool, district and sub-district hospitals as well as Primary Health Centres and News type Pramiry health centers (PHCs / NTPHCs) are struggling due to a lack of specialist doctors and consultants.

Out of 154 sanctioned doctor posts in the district, only 78 are filled, while 76 have remained vacant for years. Notably, there is no physician posted anywhere in the district Ramban, and physician posts have not even been sanctioned so far  for SDH Banihal and DH Ramban. As a result, patients suffering from even moderately complex ailments are forced to seek treatment in Jammu or the Kashmir Valley, increasing financial burden and loss of critical time.

District Hospital Ramban and Non-Functional Trauma Centre

District Hospital Ramban, located along a highly accident-prone stretch of the highway, is itself grappling with shortages. Of 35 sanctioned doctor posts, 15 remain vacant, including B-Grade Surgeon, Dermatologist, Radiologist and Ophthalmologist posts, limiting access to specialised treatment.

The Trauma Centre established in Ramban nearly 22 years ago to provide emergency care to national highway road accident victims remains largely non-functional. Of 14 sanctioned specialist posts, only four doctors are currently posted, leaving ten key positions vacant.

Consequently, even serious trauma cases are referred to District Hospital Ramban, defeating the purpose of the trauma facility.

Banihal Hospital Under Pressure

Sub-District Hospital Banihal, which caters to a population of over 250,000 across Banihal, Ramsoo and Gool subdivisions and plays a vital role during road accidents and the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra, is also facing staff shortages.

Of 18 sanctioned doctor posts, four specialist positions — Radiologist, Paediatrician, Anaesthetist and General Surgeon — remain vacant. Due to limited specialised services, patients are often referred to Anantnag or Srinagar. Despite shortages, Banihal records the highest OPD footfall in the district and maintains a referral rate of just 1.2 percent, among the lowest in Jammu province.

Patients from Sub-Division Gool and parts of Ramban Tehsil, including Gool, Sangaldan, Ind, and Sumbar areas, also prefer to visit doctors at SDH Banihal after the rail service was extended up to Sangaldan.

Batote and Rajgarh in Crisis

Medical Block Batote is also severely affected. At CHC Batote and PHC Rajgarh, 28 posts of doctors and paramedical staff are vacant. Of 13 sanctioned doctor posts at CHC / Emergency hospital Batote, only eight are filled. Additionally, 25 out of 58 non-gazetted staff posts are vacant, while only one post of sanitation  has been filled out of six sanctioned posts.

The situation is even more alarming at PHC Rajgarh, where two Medical Officer posts and one Dental Surgeon post have remained vacant for years. With no doctor posted, patients from far-flung tehsil of Rajgarh are compelled to travel 25–30 km to District Hospital Ramban for basic treatment.

Gool Sub-District Hospital Struggles

Sub-District Hospital Gool around 55 kilometres from Ramban district headquarter also faces severe shortage of doctors and paramedical staff, with 25 out of 48 sanctioned posts lying vacant. Key specialist posts including B-Grade Surgeon, Anaesthetist, Physician, Radiologist and Paediatrician remain unfilled, forcing patients to travel to Banihal, Ramban or even Kashmir hospitals for treatment.

Civil societies from the district have urged the government to prioritise healthcare in geographically challenging areas like Ramban district and immediately fill vacant posts of consultants. They emphasized that thousands of highway commuters and local residents depend on these hospitals and should not be forced to travel outside the district for routine or emergency treatment.