The Ladakh Health and Medical Education Department on Saturday issued an administrative order effecting the transfer and posting of 27 medical officers, consultants and NHM personnel across health facilities in the Union Territory. The move, notified under Order No. 55-LA-H and ME of 2026 and dated September 5, takes effect immediately and was made "in the interest of administration" with approval of the competent authority, the order said.
Senior clinical and managerial changes
Among the principal changes, Dr Fatima Bano, previously the Medical Superintendent at QAAM Hospital, Kargil, has been posted as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kargil. Dr Farhana Iqbal, who was serving as the District Immunization Officer in Leh, will take over as Medical Superintendent of QAAM Hospital, Kargil.
Dr Rinchen Angmo, serving as an NCD (non-communicable diseases) Consultant with the National Health Mission (NHM), has been reassigned as District Immunization Officer, Leh, while retaining additional charge of NCD responsibilities under NHM. The order also names Dr Jigmet Wangchuk, a medical officer at PHC Sakti, as Director of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) for NHM, with additional charge of Medical Officer at UPHC, Leh.
District and facility-level postings
The reshuffle includes several Block Medical Officer (BMO) moves: Dr Sajjad Hussain has been transferred from BMO Drass to BMO Kargil; Dr Abdul Jalil from BMO Kargil to BMO Zanskar; and Dr Javed Ahmad from BMO Khaltsi to BMO Leh. In the AYUSH vertical, Dr Stanzin Noryang, previously a Homeopathy medical officer at SNM Hospital, Leh, has been posted as Deputy Director, AYUSH.
Several consultant-level postings were also notified, moving specialists between SNM Hospital, CHCs and SDHs in Leh and Kargil.
- Dr Stanzin Angmo (Consultant Gynaecologist, SNM Hospital, Leh) → posted to PHC Nyoma.
- Dr Ayesha Malo → transferred from SNM Hospital, Leh, to QAAM Hospital, Kargil.
- Dr Stanzin Dolker (Consultant Gynaecologist, SNM Hospital, Leh) → posted to CHC Khaltsi.
- Dr Khatisha Bano (Consultant, SDH Nubra) → posted to SNM Hospital, Leh.
- Dr Padma Ladol (Consultant Gynaecologist, CHC Khaltsi) → posted to SNM Hospital, Leh.
Specialists and essential services redistributed
Beyond gynaecology, the order lists postings of paediatricians, surgeons, radiologists, orthopaedic specialists, anaesthetists and a dental surgeon across district hospitals, CHCs and primary-care units in both Leh and Kargil. For example, Dr Tsering Norphel, a paediatric consultant at SNM Hospital, Leh, has been posted to the district hospital at Khaltsi. The order further moves Dr Spalchen Gonbo, another paediatric consultant, though the full destination details were truncated in the initial public notice.
Administration says transfers are in public interest
The Health and Medical Education Department framed the transfers as administrative decisions taken in the "interest of administration". Such rotations are commonly used to balance staffing needs, provide continuity in immunisation and specialist services, and address local gaps in clinical leadership.
| Name | Previous posting | New posting |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Fatima Bano | Medical Superintendent, QAAM Hospital, Kargil | Chief Medical Officer, Kargil |
| Dr Farhana Iqbal | District Immunization Officer, Leh | Medical Superintendent, QAAM Hospital, Kargil |
| Dr Rinchen Angmo | NCD Consultant, NHM | District Immunization Officer, Leh (with NCD charge) |
| Dr Jigmet Wangchuk | Medical Officer, PHC Sakti | Director, ABDM, NHM (additional charge: MO, UPHC Leh) |
| Dr Stanzin Noryang | Medical Officer (Homeopathy), SNM Hospital, Leh | Deputy Director, AYUSH |
What this means for patients and services
The transfers reassign leadership of key hospitals and expand or alter responsibility for immunisation, non-communicable disease work and digital health efforts under ABDM. For patients, changes at the superintendent and consultant level can affect referral pathways, availability of specialist clinics and continuity of ongoing care until the new incumbents settle in.
Health administrators and facility in-charges typically handle transitional arrangements to ensure outpatient, emergency and immunisation services continue uninterrupted. Residents seeking information on facility-level changes were advised previously to contact local health offices; the department's order reiterates that postings are effective immediately, implying transfers should be reflected at the respective hospitals and centres without delay.
The order does not list every transferred name in the partial public release; additional postings and posting orders may be available in the full departmental notification held with the Health and Medical Education Department and NHM offices in Leh and Kargil.
Officials did not attach public comments to the release; the administrative notification carries the date and order number for reference by hospital administrations and staff implementing the changes.
