Srinagar, Jan 3: More than 70 highly qualified doctors in Kashmir, including MBBS, MD and DNB degree holders, have been awaiting posting orders since October 2025 after being attached to the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Kashmir. The delay has left them without salaries for the past four months.

Sources said the doctors were already in government service and had pursued postgraduate and super-specialty courses with official permission. However, after completing their studies, formal posting orders were not issued, resulting in salary stoppage and professional uncertainty.

The affected doctors said they were informed that their cases had been forwarded to the Health and Medical Education Department at the Civil Secretariat for further action. Despite repeated assurances, no decision has been taken so far.

They said the prolonged delay has caused severe financial hardship to their families and is adversely impacting patient care, particularly at a time when government hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir are facing an acute shortage of specialists.

Several health institutions continue to function without required specialists, while trained doctors remain idle despite being available to serve, they added.

The doctors have appealed to Syed Abid Rashid, Secretary Health and Medical Education, to personally intervene and ensure immediate issuance of posting orders along with the release of pending salaries. Efforts to contact the Secretary for comment did not materialize.