GMC Anantnag faces staff and space shortage

Sameer Ahmad

Anantnag: Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag is grappling with severe shortages of staff and space, affecting patient care and daily operations.

Insiders told Arising State that the combination of limited staff and inadequate space is directly impacting the quality of care provided to patients.

Serving the entire South Kashmir region, including the Pir Panjal area, GMC Anantnag was established in 2019 with the aim of enhancing healthcare education and services in the region.

The college is witnessing a heavy influx of patients, particularly in the OPD, IPD, and emergency casualty. From May 2025 to July 2025, GMC Anantnag treated around three lakh patients. In July alone, about 80,000 patients were attended to, while the emergency casualty unit treated at least 600–700 patients every night, official sources said.

This surge has led to long wait times and increased pressure on hospital resources, including staff and equipment.

Out of 23 departments, only 69 faculty members have been posted at GMC Anantnag. In addition, 26 gazetted posts, 34 multi-tasking staff (MTS) posts, and 163 non-gazetted posts—including nurses and staff nurses—remain vacant, further hampering patient care.

The combination of high patient load, staff shortages, and incidents of violence against doctors is creating a challenging environment for both patients and healthcare providers.

The situation brings to light the urgent need to address staffing gaps and improve infrastructure at GMC Anantnag to ensure quality healthcare services for the population.