Directorate of Health Services Jammu Division caters to a vast area which is mostly hilly and where habitation is thinly dispersed over the higher reaches. One may say that supervision of health service outlets in these far flung areas poses some physical difficulty. As a result, the type of efficient medical support that would be required for these areas may not be available in full. This line of argument is understandable in the sense that easier the accessibility to the rural areas the better would be the health services. That is why the Government, whether in the State or at the Centre, have been attaching great importance to road connectivity because it is the key to all round development of the country.
This notwithstanding, the Directorate of Health Services Jammu cannot close eye to the need of efficient running of health services on district level and in rural areas. It is one thing to ask for expansion of health services to rural areas and another thing to provide efficient functioning of whatever has been provided. A bizarre case of no fewer than forty unlicensed and unregistered clinical labs, diagnostic centers, dental labs and nursing homes operating illegally and in clear violation of standing court orders in Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu region has come to light, and that too through an accidental disclosure. A youth in Rajouri was taken ill and brought to the hospital for treatment where the doctor suggested getting some tests made through a private diagnostic lab in the town. The report of the said lab showed serious health faults. Alarmed at this, the patient was taken to Jammu and admitted in the GMC where fresh tests showed that everything was normal with the patient. This prompted the patient to lodge an FIR against the Rajouri lab and after investigation by the police it was found that the diagnostic lab was not registered and did not have permission to function.
When this came to light, District Medical authorities came into action and after a survey it was found that forty such labs and clinics and dispensaries etc. were functioning under the very nose of the district administration in two border district of Poonch and Rajouri. Now, a detailed report of such illegal clinics in various towns of the districts under discussion like Rajouri, Sunderbani, Nowshera, Kalakote, Poonch, Mandi, Surankote and Mendhar compiled by the Health Department is available with us. The names of these clinics and labs have also been disclosed.
It is pertinent to mention that there are rules and regulations under which proper permission is to be obtained from the Health Department for opening a clinic, diagnostic centre, laboratory or nursing home or dental service centre. The Department of Environment and Municipal Committees are also involved because proper certification has to be obtained for authorized disposal of medical waste. Additionally, it has to be said that there is a court order directing the authorities to seal the premises if such units are not registered and granted valid license under the Jammu and Kashmir Nursing Homes and Clinical Establishments (Registration & Licensing) Act, 1963.
So far only two districts of Poonch and Rajouri have come under the scanner. One cannot say how many illegal and unauthorized such labs and clinics and diagnostic centers are running in other districts of Jammu province like Doda, Kishtwar, Ramban, Reasi and Udhampur. All that can be said is that the Directorate of Health Services of Jammu Division is deficient in maintaining strict control over mushrooming of unauthorized clinics and laboratories in the entire Jammu region. It is by chance that illegal and unauthorized running of clinics and labs has come to light. It is not the result of any action by the Directorate of Health Services. In other words if the Rajouri youth had not filed the FIR against health authorities of the district, the running of illegal and unauthorized clinics would never have come to light and that is a direct aspersion on the efficiency of the Directorate of Health Services of Jammu Division.
In these circumstances, the authorities at the Directorate of Health Services shall have to answer for dereliction of duty. The onus comes to their doorsteps and they shall have to be held answerable. We hope that this instance will serve eye opener for the Directorate and it will galvanize entire machinery into action. Those of the clinics, labs, diagnostic centre or nursing homes etc. which have not proper authorization so far should be inspected by a responsible official team and if found fulfilling the requirements they should be recommended for proper license and authorization letter. But such centers as do not fulfill the norms set forth in the books of rule should be sealed. This will send a message across the State that no unauthorized centre will be allowed to function as it involves the risk of playing with the health of the people.
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