Nearly Two-Thirds Doctor Posts Vacant at Bani Hospital, RTI Reveals
BY : Sagar Reshi
Nearly two-thirds of the sanctioned doctor and specialist posts at Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Bani in Kathua district are vacant, according to information provided by the Health Department under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The RTI reply issued by the Block Medical Officer, Bani, shows that only nine of the 28 sanctioned doctor and specialist posts are currently filled, while 19 remain vacant.
The information was provided in response to an RTI application and forwarded by the Chief Medical Officer, Kathua, on September 25, 2026.
The vacancies include several important specialist positions covering gynaecology and obstetrics, medicine, surgery, paediatrics, orthopaedics, anaesthesia, ENT, ophthalmology and radiology.
According to the RTI response, the gynaecologist/obstetrician post has remained vacant for more than a decade. However, the department has not specified the exact date from which the post has been vacant.
68 Posts Vacant Across Bani Health Institutions
The staffing situation is also a concern across other health institutions covered by the Bani block.
The staffing statements attached to the RTI response show 145 sanctioned posts, 77 employees in position and 68 vacancies.
Vacancies have been reported among medical officers, dental surgeons, pharmacists, community health officers, health educators, nurses, laboratory technicians and other categories at institutions including PHC Dhaggar, PHC Koti Chandyar, NTPHC Sandroon, NTPHC Lowang and NTPHC Dullangal.
X-Ray Machine Non-Functional Since July
The RTI response also highlights problems with diagnostic equipment at SDH Bani.
The hospital’s X-ray machine has remained non-functional since July 3, 2026.
The machine is an Allenger 325 model purchased in 2015 through an NHPC donation and installed at the hospital the same year. The hospital has recorded its present status as non-functional due to a fault in the KVP controller.
The latest inspection, maintenance and repair record supplied with the RTI response is dated November 8, 2022.
The ultrasound facility, meanwhile, has been reported as functional. The 2021 E-CUBE 5 ultrasound machine was purchased on December 15, 2021, and installed on April 28, 2022. Its latest inspection record provided in the RTI response is dated May 25, 2025.
The hospital has also stated that its dialysis facility is still under installation, without specifying when the service is expected to become operational.
The operation theatre has been reported as functional.
Thousands of Patients Visit Hospital Every Year
Despite the staff and equipment gaps, SDH Bani has recorded a substantial patient load.
According to the RTI data, the hospital treated:
- 2022-23: 47,816 OPD patients, 2,068 admissions and 2,576 casualty cases.
- 2023-24: 50,873 OPD patients, 2,124 admissions and 2,881 casualty cases.
- 2024-25: 46,877 OPD patients, 2,141 admissions and 3,946 casualty cases.
While OPD attendance declined in 2024-25 compared with the previous year, casualty cases reached their highest level of the three-year period, rising to 3,946.
No IPHS Assessment Reported
The RTI response further states that no inspection or assessment of SDH Bani had been conducted up to the date of the reply, including an assessment under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS).
The information comes despite the hospital handling tens of thousands of OPD patients each year and facing vacancies in several key medical and paramedical positions.
Hospital Receives Crores in Annual Funding
The RTI response also provides details of the hospital’s allocation and expenditure during the last three financial years.
In 2023-24, SDH Bani was allocated ₹8.36 crore, of which ₹8.33 crore was spent.
In 2024-25, the allocation stood at ₹9.06 crore, with expenditure of ₹9.05 crore.
For 2025-26, the hospital received an allocation of ₹9.46 crore, against which expenditure was reported at ₹9.38 crore.
The department further stated that proposals and communications concerning the filling of vacant posts and strengthening of facilities during the previous three years “pertain to higher authorities”, without providing details of action taken on them.
Diagnostic Facilities Available
The diagnostic facilities listed in the RTI annexure include TrueNat sputum testing, complete blood count, malaria testing, liver and renal function tests, urine examination, blood grouping and cross-matching, dengue and typhoid testing, CRP, ASO, lipid profile, blood sugar testing, X-ray, ultrasound and ECG.
The equipment list includes a CBC analyser, biochemistry analyser, TrueNat machine, microscope, urine analyser, centrifuge machine, colourimeter, cross-matching machine, refrigerator and blood-storage refrigerator.
The biochemistry analyser has also been listed as non-functional for one month.
The RTI information therefore presents a detailed picture of staffing shortages, equipment issues and patient demand at SDH Bani, while also showing the hospital’s reported expenditure and available diagnostic facilities.
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