Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, June 6: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today said that dereliction of duty by the doctors and other staff of the hospitals will not be tolerated in the State.
Winding up the discussion on Demand of Grants for the Departments under his charge, the Minister said that doctors who won’t join their duties after transfer would be issued notices and terminated. “There are doctors who were transferred last year and had not joined duties. If a doctor does not join duty after transfer, issue notice – 1, 2, 3- and terminate him if he fails to join. They have to choose whether to do job or sit at home”, he said.
Bhagat said that he will provide specialist doctors to all hospitals but sought cooperation from the MLAs. He said that law will be passed so that the doctors on whose studies State spends lakhs of rupees work here and not go outside.
The Minister announced that the prescriptions of the doctors would be put to audit. “Most of the essential drugs will be available to the patients free of cost in the health institutions and doctors have been instructed to prescribe all the available drugs to the patients and the prescriptions will also be put to audit regularly to strictly enforce the policy. The details of the drugs and other facilities available in the hospitals will be prominently displayed for the information of the common man”, said the Minister.
Bhagat said that the seniority list of the doctors would be strictly followed as per the norms and justice would be done to all.
The Minister said that an expert team would be constituted to find the reasons behind increase in the cancer cases in the State.
Bhagat sought the support of Legislators for improving the health sector in the State. “Health being concern of everyone, we must make collective efforts to streamline its working so that the benefits of the facilities can be ensured for the common man. Only Minister’s efforts are not sufficient in improving the system, but entire House should support the efforts of fine-tuning the mechanism of healthcare system on ground”, said the Minister.
The Minister appreciated the concerns of the Members for upgrading Health facilities in their respective areas. He said the Government will do justice with every area and ensure equitable distribution of resources and manpower as per the actual requirements of the area. The department will devise a well-knit mechanism to make available the requisite staff, medicines, diagnostic equipments and other infrastructural facilities in the health institutions, with special focus in rural and far-flung areas to provide improved medicare facilities to the patients at their doorsteps. The Government has already identified the gaps to improve the facilities and Government of India will be approached for providing necessary funds for plugging those, said the Minister.
Revealing a slew of measures initiated by the Government during its short stint of two months to rejuvenate the health sector, Bali Bhagat said that implementation of Free Drug Policy from June 1, in all the health institutions (except teritiary hospitals) is the landmark initiative as a large chunk of population of the State will benefitting from this programme.
To prevent the pilferage of medicines from Government health institutions, the Government has devised a foolproof mechanism and supply will be of a specific colour coding strips/packing of Cyan Blue colour which will differentiate between Government and outside medicines. This mechanism will ensure zero pilferage of Government medicines. However, the Government will deal sternly with any act of pilferage of Government drugs and other material. Similarly, to ensure daily replacement of bed sheets in the hospitals, the Government has decided to procure multi-color bed sheets selecting the colours for different days, the Minister asserted.
Immediately after taking the charge of the department, the Minister said that he personally undertook an extensive visit of Government Medical Colleges, Srinagar, Kashmir and some other prominent health institutions in the State to assess the scenario of sanitation and other facilities. After that a fortnight long State-wide cleanliness drive was launched in all the health institutions and all the heads of the institutions were made responsive to keep the environment patient friendly. To ensure the proper cleanliness of wards, toilets and washrooms, the authorities of GMCs and other main hospitals have been directed to hire the services of Sulab, which is a pioneering and credible agency in the field of sanitation across the country.
Besides, instructions for creation of several facilities for the patients and attendants in the hospitals like construction of Cabins at the earmarked slots for use by attendants while their stay in the hospitals, facility of clean drinking water, fans, seating arrangements, setting up of Inquiry Counters with PAS facility to facilitate the patients and attendants were also issued immediately. The facility of food for the indoor patients which was discontinued for some time was also restored in all the hospitals, the Minister maintained.
Expressing happiness for getting two AIIMS for the State, the Minister said that Government of India has formally conveyed the sanction for establishment of these institutions one each at Srinagar and Jammu with a provision of Rs. 2000 crore each for taking up these projects. Similarly, he also expressed gratitude to the Government of India for sanctioning five Medical Colleges with a funding provision of Rs. 189 crore each and the foundation stone of three out of five colleges was recently laid by the Chief Minister and Union Health Minister.
With the establishment of these premier institutions, the health scenario of the State will be changed altogether and patients not only from the State, but from other States will also avail benefits. The process for acquisition of land and other formalities for establishment of these institutions have already been completed and foundation of AIIMS will be shortly laid, he added.
In view of the alarming rate of Cancer cases in the State, he said, the Government will set up two State Cancer Institutes, one each at Jammu and Srinagar on fast-track basis. Besides, three Teritiary Cancer Care Institutes have also been sanctioned for Kishtwar, Udhampur and Kupwara to help the Cancer patients, said the Minister.
To augment the ambulatory services in the State, the Minister said that Government of India has provided an amount of Rs. 13.47 crore for procurement of 130 Basic Life Support Ambulances and the department is in the process of procurement of these ambulances through the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation Limited. Further, the rate contract for procurement of 20 Critical Care Ambulances has also been finalized, and there will be procured soon for being deployed along the National Highway to meet the emergencies arising due to road accidents, and inter facility transfer at District hospitals/ Government Medical Colleges. Under another remarkable initiative the Department will soon launch 102 Advance Life Support/Basic Life Support Ambulance Services comprising 450 ambulances to ensure the ambulatory services at the doorsteps of the patients.
The Drug and Food Control Organization, which is responsible for checking the menace of spurious drugs and ensuring quality food items in the state will be further strengthened and made more result oriented. To undertake the tests for various food items and drugs, the State Government will strengthen the existing Food Testing Laboratories at Srinagar and Jammu with a funding provision of Rs. 6.00 crore. Moreover, Rs. 1.75 Crore has also been released for procurement of 05 mobile food testing vans, the Minister informed.
In order to further strengthen the network of Blood Banks in the State, the Government will establish 30 more blood banks under National Health Mission Programme. A provision of Rs. 4.49 crore has been made during the current financial year for the purpose. The existing blood banks have also been proposed to upgrade with the funding of Rs. 7.24 crore, the Minister revealed.
To overcome the shortage of the doctors and para-medics in the State, the Minister said that the Government will approach the recruitment agencies like PSC and J&K Service Selection Board for fast-track selections of the referred posts. Besides, the exercise of rationalization of staff will also be undertaken and necessary manpower will be provided to the institutions as per the actual work load, said the Minister.
The Minister assured them that their inputs will be utilized as guidelines for bringing tangible changes in the healthcare facilities on ground. He also urged the Members to monitor the facilities in the health institutions falling under their jurisdiction and share the deficiencies so that appropriate measures are taken.
Later, the House passed the grants of Health & Medical Education Department, for the year 2016-17, which were moved by the Minister, amounting to Rs 3036.61 crore with voice vote.
The members, who moved the Cut Motions on the Grants, withdrew after the satisfactory reply from the Minister.
Earlier, the members who took part in the discussion on demand of grants include M. Y. Tarigami, Vikar Rasool, Mohd Ashraf Mir, Rajeev Jasrotia, Mubarak Gul, Hakeem Mohammad Yasin, Choudhary Mohammad Akram, Pawan Kumar, Mohd Akbar Lone, Javaid Hassan Beigh, Ms Anjum Fazli, Dr. Krishen Lal, Usman Majeed, Bashir Ahmad Dar, Altaf Ahmad Wani, Mohammad Yousuf Bhat, Syed Asgar Ali Karbalie, Ravinder Kumar Raina, Mohd Khalid Band, G. M. Saroori, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabar, Er. Abdul Rasheed and Nawang Rigzin Jora.
MLA Vikar Rasool demanded that more doctors and para-medical staff be posted in the hospitals in his constituency and construction of hospital buildings. He also demanded trauma ward for Banihal hospital which recieved large number of accident victims. He said that the hospital needs upgradation and specialists. He said that New Types PHCs are staff less and demanded staff for them and critical care ambulances for hospitals in his constituency.
MLA Ashraf Mir said that there is no PET scan machine in any hospital in Kashmir and a patient has to spend over one Rs lakh for the test that costs only Rs 5000. He said that there are no drugs in SKIMS especially for cancer patients. He said that the MRI machine in SMHS is defunct for last one month.
Rajiv Jasrotia demanded that the promise made by the Chief Minister about model hospitals in every constituency be fulfilled. He demanded that there should be no regional disparity in the allotment of seats to various Medical Colleges of the State. He demanded that the Kathua Medical College should be constructed at Kathua hospital where 107 kanals of land is available.
MLA Mubarak Gul demanded immediate restoration of the infrastructure of the hospitals damaged in 2014 floods. He demanded that the doctors who are from far flung areas should serve in their areas. He besides other issues raised the sub-standard drug issue.
MLA Hakeen Yaseen demanded doctors and para-medical staff should be posted in the far flung areas where there is lack of staff. He demanded that the nursing school in his area be made functional. He also demanded that the pending construction work of various hospitals should be completed.
Choudhry Akram said that for last six months equipment at Surankote hospital is defunct. He also demanded Unani Hospital at Sri Khawaja that was closed due to lack of staff. He also demanded strengthening of Chandimarg hospital on Mughal Road and establishment of trauma centre in the hospital.
Pawan Gupta castigated the Government for opening new Medical Colleges when there is dearth of staff at Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar. He said that there is adhocism in GMC Jammu. He said Super-Specialty Hospital in Jammu is for namesake. He demanded more grants and staff including specialists for Udhampur hospital. He also demanded strengthening of PHCs in Udhampur. He also demanded trauma centre and critical care ambulance for the hospitals of the district.
MLA Akbar Lone demanded more staff for Hajjan hospital and completion of the construction of the hospital building. He also demanded critical care ambulances for the hospitals of his constituency.
MLA Javed Beg said that the hospitals in the rural areas are understaffed. He demanded effective Drug Control department. He also expressed serious concern over mushrooming of Private Nursing Homes and demanded their accountability. He expressed concern over the appointment of new Director Health. He said that he will make his working difficult if he sucks staff from his constituency which he did during his last tenure.
Anjum Fazili demanded testing of the drugs that are being purchased by Medical Corporation. She said that Chest Diseases Hospital in Srinagar is in dilapidated condition and demanded that the Super-Specialty hospital at Sheereen Bagh be made functional.
Krishan Lal said that the hospitals in his constituency are understaffed and demanded more staff. He said a maternity ward be constructed at sub-district hospital in his constituency. He demanded upgradation of hospitals in his constituency.
Mohammad Yusuf Tarigami expressed concern that the allocation of funds should have been more for health sector. He expressed concern alarming increase in cancer cases in the State especially in South Kashmir. He demanded that a study should be conducted for increase in this dread disease. He demanded upgradation of GMC Jammu, Lal Ded and Bone and Joints hospitals in Srinagar. He demanded better wages for ASHAs and promotion of junior nurses.
Usman Majid said that Government should make best hospitals in Kashmir and people from other States should come here for medical treatment. He expressed concern over the Incharge system in ISM. He also demanded District Hospital for Bandipora.
Bashir Ahmad Dar said that three hospitals in Kupwara are under construction and work has been stopped. He demanded more funds for district hospital Kupwara.
Altaf Kallu said that PHC Pahalgam has been sanctioned 3-4 years ago and Rs 3 cr have also been sanctioned under NABARD but work has not been started yet. He said that Pahalgam hospital lacks staff. He demanded a trauma hospital for Aishmuqam.
Mohammad Yusuf demanded that more facilities for district hospital Shopian lacks facilities and demanded a trauma hospital and hoped that Shopian will get priority in Maternity hospital.
Asghar Karbalai said that only Rs 5 cr have been released for 200 bedded Rs 45 cr Kargil district hospital. He said that the norm of 3000 population for sub-centre and 20, 000 for PHC should be relaxed for Kargil.
Ravinder Raina said that doctors and staff from hospitals of his constituency were transferred and no replacements have been made. He said that there is staff deficiency in two sub-district hospitals in his constituency.
Khalil Bhand said that the construction work on hospital building in Pulwama was started in 2003 and it is yet to get completed. He demanded CT Scan for the district hospital and said that there is staff deficiency as well. He demanded better staff for New Type PHCs.
GM Saroori said that there is staff deficiency in the hospitals of his constituency. He demanded regularization of ISM doctors. He said various hospital buildings are incompelete and demanded release of funds.
Ishfaq Jabbar demanded mini maternity hospitals in the district be strengthened so that there is no overloading of teritiary care hospitals. He also demanded more staff for hospitals.
Engineer Rashid demanded Medical College for Kupwara, Langate Sub-district hospital be converted into maternity hospital. He demanded 2-3 critical care ambulances for his constituency. He also demanded availability of anti-rabies vaccines.
Rigzin Jora demanded 2 more sub-district hospitals in Leh. He demanded dialysis machine for Leh hospital and operantionalization of New Type PHCs.
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