Dulloo calls for measures to address deficit of doctors in far-flung areas

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Thursday called for adopting a multi-pronged strategy to address deficit of doctors in far-flung areas.

Dulloo chaired a meeting with the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department to identify the blocks facing acute shortage of medics there besides deliberating upon the ways to address the issue, a spokesperson said, adding that the meeting was attended by senior officers from the department.

The Chief Secretary first had an overview of the availability of staff and its strength at each level of hierarchy. He then scrutinized blocks in the peripheral districts that face critical deficiency in terms of availability of doctors there.

While deliberating further over this matter, Dulloo observed that multiple steps should be taken to fill the gap. He advised for framing a roadmap to motivate the young professionals to serve in these far-off areas of the UT.

Dulloo also asked for creating provisions to advance certain incentives like Non-Practising Allowance (NPA) to such medical professionals on the basis of the days they attend their duties in such remote areas, the spokesperson said.

He said Dulloo also favoured providing them other amenities and benefits as additional motivating forces to serve in these areas. He urged them to look into establishment of telemedicine kiosks in these health facilities so that people can seek necessary health advice from the respective district hospitals or nearest medical colleges.

Dulloo enjoined upon the Department to rationalise the District Residency Programme (DRP) so that each district has requisite number of doctors available under it. Moreover, he advocated for the beginning of such residency programs in sub-district hospitals in remote blocks of J&K.