Diplomat Special Correspondent
Srinagar, DD: As the snow begins to melt and the Valley prepares for spring, Kashmir’s hospitals are gearing up for a challenge of a different kind.
In the last week of March, healthcare facilities across the region will face an unprecedented shortage of senior resident doctors.
Over 1,000 of these crucial medical professionals will be off duty, traveling outside the Valley to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super Speciality Courses (NEET-SS) on March 29 and 30.
The cause of this disruption? The absence of a NEET-SS exam center in Srinagar. Despite repeated appeals from the medical fraternity, aspirants are once again forced to undertake long, exhausting journeys to cities like Delhi and Chandigarh, leaving behind a healthcare system already stretched thin.
For seven days, from March 25 to March 31, major government hospitals, including Sher-e Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital, Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar, and district-level hospitals, will operate with skeleton crews. Departments that rely heavily on senior residents—such as cardiology, neurology, intensive care units, emergency services, and surgery—are expected to bear the brunt.
Senior resident doctors are the backbone of tertiary healthcare in Kashmir. They manage critical cases, assist in complex surgeries, oversee emergency wards, and provide specialized care under the supervision of consultants. Their absence will leave junior doctors, interns, and medical officers scrambling to fill the gaps.
“We are deeply concerned,” said Dr. Asif Ahmad, a senior physician at SMHS Hospital. “Senior residents are the frontline warriors in critical care units. Without them, the workload on junior staff will double, which could affect the quality of patient care.”
Patients, particularly those with chronic conditions or in need of specialized interventions, may face delays. Elective surgeries are likely to be postponed, outpatient departments could see overwhelming crowds, and emergency rooms will operate under extreme pressure.
Contingency Plans in the Making
The Jammu and Kashmir Health Department is aware of the looming crisis. According to sources within the department, contingency measures are being considered. These include:
Reallocating Medical Staff: Doctors from peripheral hospitals may be temporarily shifted to major hospitals in Srinagar and Jammu to manage the patient load.
Extended Duty Hours: Available doctors may be required to work overtime, with shifts being stretched to cover gaps.
Recalling Administrative Medical Officers: Some doctors working in administrative positions could be called back to clinical duties during this critical period.
Postponing Elective Surgeries: Hospitals may prioritize emergency cases and defer non-urgent surgical procedures.
However, doctors on the ground believe these measures will only offer temporary relief. “Healthcare is not just about numbers,” said Dr. Saba Qureshi, a resident doctor at SKIMS. “Handling critical cases requires experience and expertise. Junior doctors may not be equipped to manage complex emergencies without senior guidance.”
At the heart of the issue lies the persistent lack of a NEET-SS examination center in Kashmir. Despite the region having a strong medical infrastructure with institutions like SKIMS and GMC Srinagar, candidates are forced to travel hundreds of kilometers to appear for the exam.
“It’s not just about the inconvenience of travel,” said Dr. Imran Lone, a NEET-SS aspirant. “It’s about the ripple effect on healthcare services. If we had an exam center in Srinagar, this crisis could have been easily avoided.”
Many doctors point out that Jammu has centers for several national-level competitive exams, yet Srinagar continues to be overlooked. The Jammu and Kashmir Doctors Association has repeatedly petitioned the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to establish a center in Srinagar, but their requests have gone unanswered.
For patients, this situation spells anxiety and uncertainty. “My father has a follow-up appointment for his heart condition next week,” said Amina Bhat, a resident of Baramulla. “We were told it might be postponed because the doctor will be out of station. What are we supposed to do in emergencies?”
Rural areas are expected to suffer the most. With district hospitals also losing key staff, patients may be forced to travel to Srinagar for specialized care, only to face long queues and delayed consultations.
As the March exam dates approach, the pressure is mounting on the government to act swiftly. Health officials are reportedly in talks with hospital administrators to finalize emergency protocols.
Meanwhile, doctors are using social media platforms to raise awareness, hoping that public pressure might push the authorities to address the issue of the missing exam center in Srinagar. “This is not just about us as doctors,” Dr. Imran emphasized. “It’s about the health and safety of thousands of patients who rely on us every day.”
The coming weeks will be a test not just for aspiring super-specialists but for Kashmir’s healthcare system as a whole.DD
