Attachment chaos in Poonch Health Department; favoritism and loopholes persist; patients to suffer

Harpreet Singh
Poonch, Nov 26: Why is the condition of the Health Department in Poonch district steadily deteriorating? Why do the employees of the Health Department in Poonch appear to exhibit such a lack of seriousness in their duties? Who will take charge and hold these employees accountable? Why are these employees, from top to bottom, so often perceived as careless, indifferent, negligent, and imprudent in their approach to patient care? Why are the higher authorities, including the Director of Health Services Jammu and the Commissioner/Secretary of Health and Medical Education, so indifferent to these ongoing issues? These pressing questions are deeply troubling the minds of the people, and it is imperative for the higher authorities to step forward and provide clear answers.
The practice of attachments in the Health Department, particularly in Poonch district, has become a subject of intense criticism. While initially introduced to address genuine administrative needs and public interest, this provision has steadily evolved into a tool for favoritism, catering to the whims of “blue-eyed” employees rather than serving its intended purpose.
Attachments, once meant to streamline the department and ensure no area remained underserved, were allowed in exceptional cases—such as when an employee was ill or faced legitimate threats. However, in Poonch, the practice appears to have spiraled out of control, becoming a routine phenomenon devoid of merit. Employees, including doctors, paramedics, and clerical staff, frequently secure attachment orders to remain in comfortable postings, often leveraging their connections with higher-ups. Some have even been seen boasting about their influence and ability to manipulate the system.
Adding to the irony, every new Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Poonch begins their tenure with the ceremonial issuance of an “immediate detachment order” to ostensibly clean the system. Yet, these orders are typically discarded and hardly implemented, rendering them mere eyewash. The cycle continues with each successive CMO ignoring the detachment orders of their predecessor, further entrenching the practice of attachments.
On November 13, 2024, the newly appointed CMO Poonch, Dr. Parvaiz Ahmed Khan, issued yet another detachment order (Office No. CMO/P/5776-87), aimed at ending all attachments of doctors and paramedical staff across the district. The order, addressed to the Medical Superintendent of RSS District Hospital Poonch and BMOs of Mandi, Mendhar, and Surankote, categorically stated that all attachments—whether written or verbal—stand canceled with immediate effect unless sanctioned by higher authorities.
However, Dr. Khan’s order seems to follow the same predictable trajectory. Instead of ensuring compliance with previous detachment directives, he has asked subordinates to submit lists of employees who are currently attached or detached. This raises serious questions about record-keeping within the CMO office. The situation resembles someone entering a house and asking its residents about the outside weather—a striking metaphor for administrative inefficiency.
The order also leaves a convenient loophole, stating that attachments may be permitted in situations where patient care is at stake. This vague provision creates an easy escape route for employees looking to avoid original postings. To enforce the directive, Dr. Khan has instructed Drawing and Disbursing Officers (DDOs) to withhold salaries of employees who fail to report to their assigned places of posting.
While the CMO’s efforts might appear well-intentioned on the surface, the lack of accountability and institutional will has turned detachment orders into little more than symbolic gestures. The recurring misuse of attachments not only disrupts the healthcare system but also erodes public trust in the Health Department.
The people of Poonch are left asking: When will this vicious cycle end? Will the higher authorities, including the Director of Health Services Jammu and the Commissioner/Secretary of Health and Medical Education, finally intervene to bring meaningful reform? Or will the misuse of attachments continue to plague the district’s healthcare system, leaving patients to suffer the consequences?
This pressing issue demands immediate attention and action from those in power to restore order and ensure fair practices in the Health Department of Poonch.