Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, Mar 22: Over 34 percent of the allocated funds to SKIMS, Soura, lapsed during the 2023-24 financial year due to “insufficient” and “extremely sluggish” internal procurement mechanisms, the Government informed the Legislative Assembly today.
The Government also stated that SKIMS remains an autonomous institution, emphasizing that its institutional structures and frameworks remain unchanged since its establishment.
In a written reply to a question raised by MLA Gulmarg, Farooq Ahmad Shah, the Minister In-Charge of the Health & Medical Education Department, noted that the internal procurement mechanisms were inadequate and too slow to meet SKIMS’s requirements.
To corroborate the fact, the Government also provided the details of funds lapsed under Capex, as per which in the year 2021-22, 34.16% of funds lapsed.
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In 2022-23, the percentage of lapsed funds was 21.72%. In 2023-24, the lapsed funds increased again to 34.22%.
“In order to strengthen and support SKIMS and in the interest of patient care, the services of a dedicated procurement agency for all health institutions of J&K, the Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), has been extended to SKIMS as well,” the Government said.
On its autonomy, the Government said SKIMS was established in 1976 and it continues to be an autonomous institution.
“The existing institutional structures and frameworks remain exactly the same. This is true both for SKIMS as a tertiary care hospital and SKIMS as a deemed University.”
Government said that the SKIMS continues to grant Degrees as per SKIMS (Grant of Degrees) Act, 1983 and the budget allocation for SKIMS continues to be charged on the grants of the Health budget, as was previously.
As per the First Schedule of Government Business Rules of the erstwhile state of Jammu & Kashmir, Government said, the subject of SKIMS was assigned to the Health and Medical Education Department (H&ME).
“…and post re-organization the same continued vide Transaction of Business Rules-2019 issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India via Notification G.S.R 534(E), dated 27.08.2020.”
So, the Government noted, there is no change with regard to transaction of business rules of SKIMS.
With respect to appointments and promotions, the reply stated that it was observed that vacancies both in gazetted-including faculty-and non-gazetted positions had piled up over the years.
“In order to support and strengthen the institution, in the interest of patient care, and to make the recruitment & promotion processes transparent, time-bound, and merit-based, the services and expertise of two dedicated recruitment agencies, Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) have been provided to SKIMS for recruitment of Gazetted (including faculty posts) and Non-gazetted posts respectively.”
JKPSC is a constitutional body and JKSSB is an expert recruitment body known to have delivered in a very transparent and expeditious manner, the reply stated.
This decision, the Government said, will facilitate timely, efficient, and effective procurement of machinery and equipment for SKIMS and in turn strengthen the patient care and service delivery system of SKIMS.
“The necessary changes have had to be made to bring in transparency and efficiency in the functioning of SKIMS Soura.”
To strengthen the autonomous status of the SKIMS and to bring in transparency and efficiency, the Government said, a number of measures have been taken.
“In order to ensure timely and expeditious disposal of all matters pertaining to SKIMS, a dedicated SKIMS Cell was established. This will ensure fast-track disposal of all matters pertaining to SKIMS.”
The Government stated that SKIMS, under administrative control of the Health & Medical Education Department has had and will in future have advantages, which include expeditious disposal of matters pertaining to SKIMS.
The reply stated that it will also ensure coordination and collaboration, which, it said, will enhance patient care and research initiatives.
“Being part of the department ensures better allocation of resources, addressing needs more efficiently and effectively,” the reply said.
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