Government recently ordered increase in the intake capacity of Government Medical Colleges of Srinagar and Jammu from 100 to 150 each and in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences and Medical College Bemina from 50 to 100. This order of increase in the intake capacity has raised many an eyebrow among the doctors’ community in both of the Medical Colleges. Opinion of majority of doctors in the Medical Colleges is that before ordering increase in intake, the Government should have examined whether the existing infrastructure would be adequate to meet the extra burden. It is generally believed that our Medical Colleges have not the requisite infrastructure to admit more candidates than what these are serving at the moment.
Those who have raised doubts about the wisdom of issuing the order believe that neither do they have the required number of halls, laboratories and equipment needed for extended number of students nor have they adequate faculties to be deployed for teaching work. Doctors’ fraternity has expressed apprehensions that the existing infrastructure has to be upgraded before seats are increased. For example the shortage of beds and accommodation are such that three patients are bundled on one bed. On an average a doctor is supposed to take care of 20 patients and teach 30 students in one day. With additional intake, there will be crowding in the wards and it will adversely affect both teaching and patient care duties. The doctors say that the Government has given three-year time for upgrading the infrastructure. As such upgrading should have been attended first and increase in admission would follow. What has been done is that the cart is placed before the horse.
However, the Government and the Department of Medical Health must have considered the subject of increasing the number of students in the Medical Colleges before taking a final decision. We know that the ratio of doctors available and the requirement of medical support at present is highly imbalanced. We need increase in number of doctors as the availability per thousand is much less than the standard set forth by WHO. Our population is increasing and people have become more health-conscious and want medical assistance. The Government cannot close it eye to this growing need. The number of doctors has to increase and particularly our rural areas are deficit in health services. They cannot be left to negligence for too long a time. They are not only to be provided medial support but they have also to be provided opportunities of local brilliant students becoming doctors and serving their respective areas. All this makes sense in increasing the number of seats in Medical Colleges.
As regards infrastructure, it is obvious that the Government shall have to provide upgraded infrastructure along with increasing the intake capacity of the Medical Colleges. We would urge the Government that simultaneous with increasing the intake capacity of Medical Colleges all efforts should be diverted towards providing adequate infrastructure so that teaching and practicing go together smoothly. A positive attitude from both sides is required.
It has to be stated that the Union Minister for Health and Family Planning hails from the State and has always shown great interest in improving health services in the State. We have two super specialty hospitals sanctioned for our State. We are also expecting more medical dispensaries and polyclinics to be opened in near future. With keen interest shown by the Chief Minister in expanding health services in the State, we should be in a comfortable position as far as providing available health support to the common people is concerned.
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