Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, May 30: Demanding CBI probe into the affairs of GB Pant Cantonment hospital, Satwari in Jammu, National Sikh Front (NSF) J&K unit has urged the State Government to take over the hospital for the benefit of poor and needy state patients.
Addressing a press conference here today, chairman of the Front Varinderjeet Singh expressed serious concern over the functioning of GP Pant Cantonment hospital at Satwari here. He said the hospital is still functioning as first-aid center despite the fact that it is 35-bedded hospital and was constructed nearly 23 years back at the prime location on National Highway near Satwari Chowk on 14 kanals land.
The Front leader said that nearly Rs 1.20 crore is being spent by the Central Government on the salary of the staff in this hospital annually. Adequate staff on deputation has been placed by the State Government in this hospital but the needy patients are deprived of the benefit of this hospital. The equipment worth lakhs is lying unutilized and the hospital is virtually lying defunct.
Mr Singh said after normal working hours, no one is found in this hospital to offer medical facilities here for emergency. The land was provided by the State Government. Medicines worth lakh go expired and are not provided to the patients. The patients are always discouraged by the staff here and advised to go to Gandhi Nagar or GMC hospital at Bakshi Nagar. He demanded a CBI inquiry into the affairs of the hospital and urged the Chief Minister and the Health and Medical Education Minister to set the things right and improve functioning of this hospital. He also sought probe into the illegal allotment of Defence land in Jammu Cantonment on the name of some influential land mafia men and said that like Srinagar Defence land scam, Jammu scam will be much more in volume.