Rajesh Dhar
JAMMU, July 27: Though, the Department of Indian System of Medicines (ISM) AYUSH has got its independent status 27 years back in the year 1987, yet the administrative anarchy and the autocratic approach of the Administrators as also the Ministers and the MLAs has put the department in shambles as it has failed to settle its decades-old problems.
Sources said that a total number of 417 sanctioned dispensaries are established in the State, however, there are around 80 more dispensaries which have just been recommended by the Ministers and MLAs from time to time since last over two decades without proper sanction by the Governments, adding that these dispensaries have proved to be a major stumbling-block in the functioning of the sanctioned dispensaries.
Sources added that as many as 75 newly established dispensaries, AYUSH units in Allopathic institutions, Panchkarma and Khyarsutra units are functioning on so-called internal arrangement basis for want of sanction of any post for said units, adding that the mismanagement of the internal arrangement basis is made by withdrawing staff from regular sanctioned dispensaries from remote areas of the State, thus not only crippling the functioning of the sanctioned dispensaries but also depriving the ailing masses of the remote areas from the legitimate health care. This arrangement leaves the heads of these dispensaries in the lurch and makes the dispensaries almost defunct.
Sources further said that around 45 dispensaries which have been upgraded way back in 1983, have only a gazzetted cadre medical officer to deliver all the duties and are without a pharmacist, a nurse or an orderly, which otherwise, should have been there to cater to the needs of the people.
The administrative anarchy is such that requisite infrastructure is yet to be established in the newly created 8 districts despite a lapse of over 6 years. Moreover, there is a provision of having just one ADMO, one Junior Assistant and one Nursing Orderly even at the district level.
“Despite the sanction of Government Ayurvedic College at Jammu and Government Unani College at Srinagar with the central grant six years ago, the process of making these Colleges functional is extremely slow,” said patron of All Jammu and Kashmir Ayurvedic Congress, adding the department has set a perfect example of stagnation and apathy because the concerned authorities have failed to project and solve the genuine problems of the department.
There is a firm belief among the majority of the employees in ISM that the establishment of the Directorates at the provincial level, rather than the existing State Level Directorate, will make the department healthy and vibrant.
Talking to EXCELSIOR, the ISM employees said that the State Government has exhibited its policy of discrimination by ignoring the most logical and genuine demand of bifurcating the State level Directorate into the provincial levels.
Sources said that the election for the Board of Ayurvedic and Unani Systems of Medicines, constituted under the Jammu and Kashmir Ayurvedic and Unani Practioners Act 1959, has not been held since last 14 years.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din while admitting stagnation in the ISM Department, said that the efforts are being made to sort out the problems at an earliest to help the department run smoothly.
The Minister, however, said that the unsanctioned dispensaries running on internal arrangement basis, are being established only on the demand of the people and the concerned MLAs, just to cater to the needs of the residents of the remote areas, adding that the shifting of the staff from sanctioned dispensaries is must to make them functional.
“Efforts are on to regularize all the unsanctioned dispensaries throughout the State and provide sufficient staff to 45 upgraded dispensaries, which are otherwise run by a lone medical officer. There are so many chronical problems lying with the Department, which will need time to rectify”.
On a question as to why the ISM doctors are forced to prescribe Allopathic medicines, the Minister said that no body will force them to do so as it against the sanctity of the profession as also against the norms.
Despite several attempts, Director ISM refused to pick-up his phone.
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