J&K Healthcare Crisis 2025: Medical Negligence, Assaults, and Infrastructure Failures Expose Systemic Collapse
By: Javid Amin | Srinagar | 25 July 2025
A System in Distress: Medical Flashpoints Spark Public Outcry in J&K
Jammu & Kashmir’s fragile healthcare system is under unprecedented scrutiny. A wave of controversies — from alleged medical negligence to attacks on doctors — has sent shockwaves through the union territory, triggering widespread anger, institutional burnout, and political posturing.
This is not just a healthcare emergency. It’s a crisis of trust between citizens and caregivers in a region already grappling with political, economic, and logistical stress.
Recent Flashpoints: Deaths, Protests, and Hospital Chaos
SMHS Srinagar & GMC Jammu:
In two high-profile incidents, doctors were physically assaulted by grieving attendants following patient deaths. These attacks prompted doctors’ strikes, halting outpatient services and emergency care in multiple government hospitals for several days.
“We cannot work with a noose around our necks. Either we are doctors, or we’re punching bags.”
— Resident Doctor, SMHS Srinagar
District Hospital Pulwama:
The death of a patient allegedly due to treatment delays and negligence led to public protests outside the hospital. Videos went viral, showing relatives breaking hospital windows and demanding justice.
GMC Rajouri & SDH Akhnoor:
In separate earlier cases, a maternal death during delivery and a preventable amputation after an untreated wound have not seen any transparent inquiry or punitive action. Victims’ families continue to wait for answers.
Root Causes of the Healthcare Crisis in J&K
The blame does not lie solely with frontline workers. The situation reveals multi-layered, deep-rooted structural issues affecting healthcare delivery across the Union Territory.
01. Overcrowding and Crumbling Infrastructure
SMHS Srinagar, the valley’s largest tertiary hospital, receives thousands of patients daily, overwhelming its already strained emergency and surgical units. Hospitals in Rajouri, Kupwara, Anantnag, and other districts face frequent power outages, equipment shortages, and unsanitary conditions.
02. Massive Staff Shortages
J&K’s Health Department is currently operating with over 16,000 vacant positions — from doctors and nurses to lab technicians and ward boys. Rural and border districts are the worst hit.
03. Prejudice and Misinformation
The rise of xenophobic narratives targeting contractual or reserved-category doctors — especially those from other states or Bangladesh — has fostered toxic distrust. Viral videos questioning their competence have sparked mob behavior and moral panic.
04. Rampant Private Practice
There is growing anger over doctors allegedly dividing their time between government hospitals and private clinics, often during duty hours. While legal provisions exist to restrict this, lack of monitoring and political patronage has allowed unethical practices to flourish.
Doctors React: Fear, Frustration, and Strikes
The escalating crisis has pushed doctors — especially resident medical officers (RMOs) and junior consultants — to the edge. Frequent protests and mass leave applications are becoming the norm.
Core Demands from Medical Professionals:
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Make attacks on healthcare workers non-bailable offenses, with swift police action
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Appoint bouncers or security teams at sensitive wards and emergency units
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Implement mental health support systems for burnout-affected medics
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End exploitative contractual hiring policies that offer low pay and no job security
“We’re made to work 18 hours a day in unsafe environments, only to be abused or blamed when things go wrong.”
— PG Medical Student, GMC Jammu
Political Theatre and Public Discontent
While public sentiment blames both health workers and administrators, politicians have added fuel to the fire.
MLA Showdowns:
Numerous incidents have emerged of local MLAs storming hospital wards, demanding explanations mid-treatment, and publicly shaming staff on camera. These visits, often televised or posted on social media, have caused panic among staff and derailed operations.
Lack of Accountability:
Despite public outrage, very few inquiries have been completed, and fewer still have resulted in suspension or disciplinary action. This has deepened a sense of betrayal and helplessness among both medical professionals and citizens.
The Great Brain Drain: Doctors Leaving J&K
With growing violence, lack of protection, and zero incentives, young doctors are increasingly moving to private hospitals in Delhi, Chandigarh, or abroad. Many are refusing PG residency offers in J&K altogether.
“I’m a doctor, not a security guard. My parents are begging me to leave.”
— Final Year MBBS student, SKIMS
What Needs to Change: 8 Key Solutions
To rebuild trust and protect lives, experts and medical professionals suggest the following urgent, practical reforms:
1️⃣ Legal Safeguards
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Amend laws to classify assault on medical professionals as a non-bailable offense
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Install CCTV monitoring in all emergency and labor wards
2️⃣ Healthcare Infrastructure Upgrade
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Expand OPD hours with rotational staffing
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Enforce digital triage systems to prioritize critical cases
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Install backup oxygen systems, ICU beds, and modern diagnostics in district hospitals
3️⃣ Staff Expansion & Regularization
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Fill 16,000+ vacant posts immediately through fast-track recruitment
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Convert contractual doctors into permanent staff with benefits
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Incentivize rural postings with housing and hardship allowances
4️⃣ End Dual Practice
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Strictly monitor private practice during duty hours using biometric and location data
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Punish violators through suspensions and license cancellation
5️⃣ Training for Communication & Crisis Handling
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Mandate counseling and soft-skills modules in MBBS and PG curriculum
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Train staff in de-escalation techniques to handle grieving attendants
6️⃣ Public Awareness Campaigns
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Highlight medical success stories and patient recoveries
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Launch media literacy programs to counter fake news and hate-driven content
7️⃣ MLA and VIP Protocol Reform
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Introduce strict guidelines for political visits to hospitals
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Prohibit filming or live-streaming of patients or staff by politicians
8️⃣ Transparent Inquiries and Redressal
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Set up independent medical review boards with legal experts
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Fast-track investigation into cases like Pulwama, Rajouri, Akhnoor, and publish public reports
A Matter of Life and Death: Final Thoughts
Jammu & Kashmir cannot afford a collapsing healthcare system. As terrorism-related casualties decline, the next threat is internal — the breakdown of the very hospitals that are supposed to save lives.
This is not merely a medical issue, but a governance crisis, a trust deficit, and a societal failure. Without swift, systemic reform, the people of J&K will continue to suffer — not from a lack of doctors, but from the absence of dignity, safety, and justice in healthcare.
“When doctors are beaten and patients die for lack of care, we’re all in critical condition.”
— Human rights activist, Srinagar
