Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Aug 28: The Government issued a clarification today, asserting that the In-Patient Department (IPD) services at the Community General Hospital Unit located within the SMHS Complex, serving as a designated Drug De-Addiction Centre (DDC), including all other services, will remain operational without any halt.
Furthermore, the Government has also dismissed any plans to reduce services provided by the Psychiatry Department of the Government Medical College (GMC), countering concerns of inadequate manpower by affirming the allocation of essential resources.
A spokesperson of the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department confirmed to Excelsior that the de-addiction services and other crucial facilities offered by the Psychiatry Department at both the DDC SMHS and its affiliated Rainawari Hospital will continue without compromise.
This official clarification comes in response to an earlier decision of the Psychiatry Department to halt IPD services and minimize other provisions due to a perceived shortage of personnel following the contract termination of approximately 28 individuals engaged under the National Mental Health Programme (NMHP).
An earlier meeting held on August 25, presided over by the Head of the Psychiatry Department, had decided to suspend services until the issue of staff insufficiency was resolved. The decision, if implemented, would have had significant implications for the overall mental health services, especially the drug de-addiction.
According to details shared during the meeting, a deficiency in unfilled and vacant positions was noted, particularly in the multi-tasking staff category. It was also given out that out of a sanctioned strength of 69, only 31 positions were filled, leaving 38 posts vacant. The department also highlighted that the discontinuation of services for the 28 personnel engaged under the NMHP was compounded by the pre-existing staff shortage.
Contrary to these concerns, the H&ME Department stated, “The necessary staff has been deployed now after the termination of the contract of 28 personnel and it exceeds the required numbers; additional staff has been reassigned from various areas of GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals, wherever there was a surplus.”
Addressing the termination of the contract with these personnel, which led to the perceived staffing crisis, the H&ME spokesperson clarified that the engagements made under the NMHP were of a contractual nature and were anticipated to conclude with the project. “It was part of the hiring procedure, and the individuals were aware that their contracts would terminate on August 31,” the spokesperson added.
Bhupinder Kumar, Secretary, H&ME Department, emphasized the Government’s commitment to fulfilling staffing needs wherever necessary. “At present, the required staff has been assigned, and the unit is operational,” he confirmed.
Officials from the Psychiatry Department also affirmed that the matter has been resolved, and both the Out-Patient Department (OPD) and IPD services will continue as usual.
The Medical Superintendent of the Government Psychiatric Disease Hospital further stated, “…there will be no interruption of services at any facility, and IPD, OPD, and all other services at Govt. Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, Kathi Darwaza, Rainawari, as well as the Community General Hospital Unit located in SMHS complex, will continue as per the normal routine.”
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