Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, July 26: The Government today ordered an inquiry to identify those responsible for halting patient care services at SMHS Hospital following an incident of assault on a doctor earlier this week.
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An order in this regard has been issued by the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department, following an assurance by Minister Sakeena Itoo that those responsible for disrupting patient services will face action.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to appointment of Baseer ul Haq Chaudhary, Mission Director, National Health Mission J&K as Inquiry Officer to enquire into recent incident at Government Medical College, Srinagar,” read the order.
The inquiry officer has been tasked to conduct an “objective” and “comprehensive examination” of the facts and circumstances pertaining to the “law and order” situation that occurred on July 23, 2025, at Government Medical College, Srinagar.
“Assess the immediate precursors to the said incident, as well as the developments that ensued after the incident.”
The inquiry will also investigate the reasons for the closure of Operating Theatres (OTs), assess whether such closure was avoidable, and fix responsibility upon the individual(s) “found to have acted in dereliction of duty” or in contravention of established protocols.
It is to be noted here that earlier, after a doctor was assaulted by an attendant whose patient had died, the doctors refused to attend to patients and closed down various sections, including Operation Theatres, making patients suffer.
They also misbehaved with journalists present on the occasion, preventing them from discharging their professional duties.
The inquiry ordered by the H&ME will also recommend concrete measures aimed at enhancing internal grievance redressal mechanisms, strengthening administrative coordination, and improving the overall functioning of the institution.
The designated Inquiry Officer, who has been directed to submit his report within 15 days, has also been tasked to propose remedial and preventive measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur in the future.
As per the order, Mohammad Ashraf Hakak, Administrator, Associated Hospitals, GMC Srinagar, has been designated as the Presenting Officer in the case — the same officer who earlier said that patient care was not halted and that the services were running smoothly, contrary to the ground reality.
Meanwhile, in a separate order, the H&ME Department directed doctors and paramedical staff to wear white aprons during their working hours and nameplates displaying their full name and designation.
The order stated that it has been observed that doctors and paramedical staff in various government healthcare institutions are not strictly adhering to the prescribed norms regarding the wearing of aprons and displaying of nameplates during duty hours.
“Such non-compliance is causing inconvenience to patients in identifying healthcare personnel.”
Accordingly, as per the order, all doctors, including those engaged under NHM and Ayush, as well as all paramedical staff working in government healthcare institutions across J&K, have been directed to: “Wear proper white aprons during their working hours; wear legible name plates displaying their full name and designation at all times while on duty.”
The Heads of Institutions, Medical Superintendents, and Chief Medical Officers have been asked to ensure strict compliance with the directives in their respective institutions.
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