Mohinder Verma
JAMMU, June 22: While other institutions of the State have made better utilization of funds released under National Rural Health Mission and 13th Finance Commission award, the SMGS Hospital is on the verge of losing Rs 3.18 crore meant for up-gradation of facilities and equipment for further reducing Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) due to the apathy on the part of those at the helm of affairs in this institution.
Reliable sources told EXCELSIOR that Mission Director, National Rural Health Mission, J&K vide communication No SHS/J&K/NRHM/ 9328-36 dated October 1, 2012 had conveyed to the Principal of Government Medical College Jammu, release of Rs 2 crore as Grant-in-Aid on account of procurement of equipment for strengthening of Paediatrics Department at SMGS Hospital, Jammu.
Out of Rs 2 crore, an amount of Rs 60 lakh was kept for renovation of civil and mechanical works and Rs 129.50 lakh for equipment and the Principal was conveyed explicitly that Grant-in-Aid must be incurred during the current financial (2012-13) as per the decision taken by the Chairman Executive Committee, State Health Society.
However, no focus was laid on procurement of equipment, which otherwise was imperative for strengthening of Paediatrics Department particularly the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where new born babies are kept in case of medical complicacies”, sources informed.
Similarly, under the 13th Finance Commission award, an amount of Rs 3 crore was released to the SMGS Hospital by the Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu vide order No.26-AHJ/Plan dated November 21, 2014 for utilization during the financial year 2014-15 as per the specified details, sources said.
Out of this amount, Rs 82 lakh was earmarked for upgradation of machinery and equipment in NICU and Rs 104 lakh for strengthening of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Section of SMGS Hospital Jammu by way of providing machinery/equipment.
However, neither amount earmarked for upgradation of machinery and equipment in NICU nor for strengthening of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Section could be expended till date because of the administrative inertia.
Stating that both these grants were meant for further reducing the infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate, sources said, “assistance under NRHM and 13th Finance Commission award was given as incentive keeping in view the fact that J&K had lower mortality rate than rest of the country”, adding “due to non-utilization of funds the facilities for new born babies and high risk pregnancies could not be provided, which otherwise are of prime importance in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology departments”.
“While similar assistance to the Paediatric and Obstetrics Hospitals in the Kashmir valley has been fully expended by the concerned authorities, their counterparts in SMGS Hospital don’t seem to be ready to give due importance to strengthening and up-gradation of facilities for further reducing IMR and MMR”, sources regretted, adding “it is really a matter of concern that on one side the State sheds tears on lack of financial assistance and on the other side the funds meant for providing better facilities to new born babies are being allowed to remain un-utilized despite lapse of considerable period of time”.
In response to a question, sources said, “now SMGS Hospital authorities cannot make use of these funds unless revalidated, which either may not be possible on varied grounds or take quite long time”, adding “in this way, up-gradation and strengthening of facilities for further reducing IMR would remain dream for unspecified period”.
When contacted, Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu, Dr Ghanshyam Dev Gupta confirmed that funds to the tune of Rs 3.18 crore could not be utilized in the SMGS Hospital due to varied reasons, adding “now I have written to the higher authorities for revalidation of these funds so that the same could be placed at the disposal of the J&K Medical Supplies Corporation for further necessary action vis-à-vis purchase of equipment”.
He, however, could not specify as to how much time re-validation would take.
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