Shopian- In a shocking oversight, Shopian district authorities have included a deceased paramedic, a doctor who had been transferred two years prior, and another terminated doctor, in a list of employees marked absent during a surprise inspection at the district hospital.
Healthcare workers from District Hospital Shopian Thursday staged a protest over the absentee list that they claim falsely marked numerous active staff members as absent. The protest followed a surprise inspection by the Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) on Wednesday, which revealed that only 17 out of the hospital’s 198 employees were present, with 181 marked absent.
The protesting staff members argued that the absentee list included names of doctors, paramedics, and other personnel who were, in fact, present and on duty during the day. “The list contains the names of those who had passed away, those transferred, and medical professionals no longer employed at the hospital,” the protesting staff claimed.
“If only 10% of the staff were present, how would the hospital function smoothly? At 10:00 a.m., there’s a shift rotation. Some doctors come in, others have night shifts, and the paramedical staff also has a different rotation schedule,” a doctor, working at the hospital, said.
“If the inspection was meant to be fair, they should’ve checked sections at 11 a.m. If we weren’t working, we’d take responsibility. But presenting this situation like this is an insult,” he added.
Discussion :
In light of recent incidents at Shopian District Hospital, it’s clear that the involvement of administrative officials from non-medical backgrounds in surprise inspections is counterproductive, especially when it comes to suspending or marking medical staff as absent without understanding the full operational structure. Such actions may seem like a quick way to gain public sympathy, but they risk undermining morale, tarnishing the reputation of committed health professionals, and even endangering patient care.
Medical Staff Complexity & Rotation:
Hospitals operate on complex schedules, with doctors, paramedics, and support staff working shifts that accommodate 24-hour patient care. In a healthcare setting, a 10 a.m. visit can’t accurately capture the hospital’s round-the-clock commitment. Many employees might be on a night shift or in other departments at that time. The absence of administrative awareness about these shifts can result in errors, as seen when even transferred and deceased staff members were marked “absent.”
Healthcare Professional Dignity & Public Service:
Doctors, paramedics, and support staff in J&K hospitals work under immense pressure, especially given the region’s unique challenges. These professionals deserve respect and fair assessment, not hasty reports that tarnish their dedication. If inspections are truly necessary, they should involve medical department representatives who understand the demands and schedules of healthcare workers.
Rather than trying to paint our dedicated healthcare workers in a negative light, let’s advocate for fair, informed assessments that support – rather than demoralize – those who work tirelessly to care for us.
The Kashmir Health Portal stands by the medical professionals of J&K, recognizing their unwavering commitment and defending their honor against unwarranted judgments.