Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat has said that the government is working to fill vacancies of doctors in the hospitals, while process for rationalization of staff in government hospitals has also been initiated.Responding to a question by Mohammad Khursheed Alam, the Minister said that selection of 100 doctors has been completed recently and the process for their posting in the hospitals having dearth of staff would start within few days. He said rationalization of staff in hospitals is also in progress which will help in overcoming the shortage of staff especially in remote areas.The Minister further informed the House that the construction of three new Medical Colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla and Rajouri has been taken up and for the purpose Rs 45.03 crore have been released by the Center.He also informed that the state government has approached the GoI to seek formal sanction and release of funds for establishment of medical college proposed for Doda. He said the transfer of land for Medical College has been taken up with the Revenue Department.Replying to supplementary questions, the Minister said that 1907 Kanal land has been finalized at Awantipora for establishment of AIIMS in Kashmir, of which 1309 kanals of land has been transferred to Health and Medical Education Department.
He said Rs 24 crore have been released in favor of Collector Land Acquisition Pulwama for disbursement of land compensation for balance quantum of 598 Kanals.The Health Minister informed the house that 1951 Kanals of land has been unidentified at Vijaypur, Samba for establishment of AIIMS in Jammu. He said Rs 8 crore has been released to Collector Land Acquisition Samba for acquisition of 176 Kanals private land adding that necessary acquisition procedure like issuance of notifications stands already initiated.The transfer of 293 Kanals of state land for AIMS in Jammu has been taken up with Revenue authorities, while Forest Department Advisory Committee has also approved transfer of 1395 Kanals of land for Health and Medical Education department, subject to the release of compensation of Rs 6.61 crore,” the Minister said.He said Rs 2000 crore each has been earmarked under PMDP for these two AIIMS. He said after making the sites free from all the encumbrances, the center would be requested to initiate the execution of these vital projects.Legislators, Surinder Choudhary, Firdous Ahmad Tak, Saif-ud-Din Bhat and Vibodh Gupta raised supplementaries to the main question.