Ailing health-sector; only 1 ventilator functional at SMGS hospital

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Dec 07: The only government-run specialised Gynaecology and Paediatrics hospital in the region - Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital - has only one ventilator functional. 


Sources revealed that the hospital has only one ventilator as of now and all patients who are required to be put on artificial respiratory support system are shifted to already over-burdened Government Medical College hospital (GMC) Jammu. 


They said that about one year back administration had procured an additional ventilator for the new Paediatrics block, but it is also lying nonp-functional as there are no required doctors and para-medical staff. 
Absence of ventilators, the most important requirement of Pediatrics is causing much worry to the patients and their wards. The hospital draws an influx of nearly 1,200 patients in its OPD, besides 50-60 patients are admitted on daily basis in both wards. 


“Hospital is faced with shortage of manpower, equipment and infrastructure but we cannot do anything in this regard as decision has to be taken by the government to fill the vacancies to run equipments. We have to wait for the decisions of the administration” said a senior Doctor. 


Patients said that in the absence of life-saving equipments people are left with no choice but to shift their patients to private nursing homes, while it is the poor who suffer the most due to the government’s indecision in this regard. 


In case of emergency, patients are shifted to GMC. We are waiting for the recruitment process initiated by the Public Service Commission (PSC).


These equipments need atleast three nurses, a doctor for continuous monitoring and other staff 550-bed hospital was overburdened with the burgeoning number of patients. The hospital accommodates more than 700 indoor patients on regular basis - a number beyond its existing capacity. Officials said that it is not only the lack of ventilators but the shortage of the doctors and para-medical staff was also casting shadow on the other departments like ENT and related branches of medical science.

Ban on Doctors practice and Need: Ailing people looks for middle path

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Dec 2: As the Hon'ble High Court has banned the private practice of the doctors in Jammu and Kashmir, the people desirous of taking private treatment from the Government doctors are facing hardships. The quality of service doctors provide to the patients during private practice is quite better than that being provided by them during the service hours at Government hospitals. Owing to this, the people are forced to catch up the doctors in their houses. 


It is an open fact that government run health institutions have failed to deliver the goods to the ailing people.Coupled with the manpower shortage and lack of facilities, for most of the people, private clinics was the last destination for them to seek medical advise. Now, that door has been closed and the people are forced to stand in queues. 


The situation is more dismal in rural areas where the health centres running under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) do not have availability of equipments and other required infrastructure, besides, the staff appointed is also not adequate. Wishing anonymity a doctor posted in a Primary Health Centre (PHC) said that the government has provided us short infrastructure and staff is also less; we have to manage all patients within this condition. Showing helplessness she said many times we have sent demands for medicine and staff but nothing has been done so far. 


“This is just a showcase, but actually the condition of hospitals in the state is very grave. ”, said a senior doctor. Visiting any of the hospitals in the state, it can been seen that wards are overcrowded and when the doctors refuse admission to patients, they have no choice but to get admitted in private hospitals. 


“On an average 500 patients attend the different Out Patient Departments (OPDs). As per official records, the hospital also receives 80-100 indoor patients on daily basis”, said a source. 


Talking about the SMGS hospital, a senior government official said that government had a proposal to convert the hospital into the exclusive mother and child care hospital, by shifting both the dermatology and ENT departments from here to the Government Medical College (GMC), but they have no resources to implement it. 


The hospital is specialized in pediatrics and gynecology besides skin diseases. If sources were believed in this 550 bedded hospital there are about 800 to 1000 patients are admitted in the hospital on an average. And two patients were forced to accommodate in one bed. “At various instances the patients’ complaints that they are not getting proper treatment as required, but we are unable to give satisfactory treatment with proper concentration though the infrastructure is also not suitable” said a PG doctor. 


Though State government is claiming bringing unprecedented reforms in the health sector, dismal health scenario in the government sector has not changed much. On an average 3,097 persons depended upon one health institution in the state as against 2,662 in 2000-01. 


A paramedic also expressed that their strength was not sufficient which puts additional burden on the existing paramedics. She questioned, “The government is not been able to provide adequate staff and equipment in GMCH then why Super Specialty Hospital is being build. Instead of constructing buildings the focus must be on strengthening the existing health care system.”

Total smoking ban still distant dream

Vendors selling tobacco products outside the outside hospitals and educational institutions


Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Dec 1: The irony continues when people can be seen buying cigarettes from small outlets; carry them inside unchecked and smoke in prohibited areas, which include hospitals. Despite ban on smoking in public places, the violation is rampant in the city with many of the tea stalls and Dhabas near educational institutions providing space for smoking and students in groups could be seen blowing the cigarettes.


The ban imposed restricts sale of tobacco and products to the people below 18 years of age. It also prohibits sale within 100 yards of education institutions and urges shops to property displays warning against the hazards of smoking, but they are the main violators.


Surprisingly the special teams constituted by the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC) to check the violators and impose fines, seem to have little affect on the people.


“Outside most of the hospitals and educational institutions people can easily get tobacco products and space to smoke. For what purpose the ban has been imposed”, said Sheenu, a college student.


With tobacco particles in the air, the passive smoking becomes inevitable but common man has little say in stopping people who spoke openly.


The nationwide ban on smoking in public places was imposed in October 2008 under the provision of Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products (Prohibition and 
Advertisements and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution)-Act 2003. Later in 2007, the state government asked local bodies to strictly monitor the ban and take action against defaulters.


“I have seen shops with big warning selling Chutkis to the children, it’s strange that authorities expect that they will follow the directions”, said Kiran Bhat, a higher secondary school teacher.


However when contacted Health Officer JMC Dr. Anwar Choudhary said, “We have been routinely taking action against the violators and slap on the spot fines. But cooperation of people is also needed”.


He said keeping in view the public interest; they had also decided to start an awareness campaign across the city to bar people from violating the ban. “Instead of forcing us to take steps that will make them shell out the money, people should cooperate with the officials”, Choudhary said. At present, the fine ranges from Rs 200 to Rs 500 but in some cases it can be higher.

Doctor on maternity leave terminated by Health Minister

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 30: Call it a dictatorship or abuse of power, taking maternity leave has cost a female doctor appointed under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) her job.


According to sources the said doctor was appointed in Sub District Hospital (SDH), Marh in NRHM and was on leave without salary from the last 4 months but Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma terminated her from the job, moreover the Block Medical Officer (BMO) of the said hospital was also attached who sanctioned her (female doctor) leave.


Sources also said that the appointed staff under NRHM is doing equally as permanent staff, but the government is providing less pay and other facilities to them.


“From the last many years the state government has introduced NRHM, a centrally sponsored scheme, but till date no proper guidelines has set by the department due to which the appointed staff still suffers” said a doctor wishing anonymity.


The doctor further said that if there are no guidelines for without pay salary for the appointed staff under NRHM then the concerned BMO has to take action against her four months before when the said doctor applied for the maternity leave.


He added that the administrators is only making fun of the health system by appointed and terminated the staff as per their own wishes.


When contacted Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Madhu Khullar said that there is no procedure for leave on without salary in NRHM, so any doctor or paramedic need more leave, than its better for him/her to leave the job as the department is not supposed to sanction them more than 15 days leave.


She further said that if the doctor who has been terminated if whishes to rejoin the job then she will again give interview.


Refuting the statement that Health Minister has terminated the doctor Dr Khullar said that Minister has not issued any order of termination, but the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Jammu issued the termination order and also attached the concerned BMO.

500 engineers, architects trained to raise earthquake resistant structures

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 29: Although Jammu and Kashmir still does not have any law making it compulsory to construct earthquake resistant buildings, the state disaster management cell constituted after the 2005 disaster has so far trained about 500 engineers and architects in construction of quake resistant structures. 


According to the officials the cell is now making plans to impart training to masons and construction workers on district basis so that they could use their expertise on the field particularly in rural areas.

Amir Ali, project coordinator of the cell said, “Still we have lot to do, but before 2005 we had no experience in disaster management, but we are learning now”. 


According to the officials all the people were trained with the assistance of National Institute of Disaster Management, Ahmedhabad and other national institutions. 


It is pertinent  to mention here that on October 8, 2005 a powerful earthquake had struck the Jammu and Kashmir including the Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), leaving about 1400 dead in J&K and around 70,000 dead in PoK and destroying thousands of structures. The cell was established after the killer quake both in Kashmir valley and Jammu region to coordinate the disaster management work in future. 


Ali said, “On technical front we are still not upto the mark but we are investing in technical as well as human resources so that we may not have to face the situation similar to 2005”.  


He said that the Disaster Management cell has also launched a ‘techno-legal Regime’ so to amend the building law to enforce construction of earthquake resistant structures. “So far there is no such law to enforce people to construct earthquake resistant structures and this technical legal regime was introduced to emend existing laws”, he said. 


Government has already issued order in March this year making it compulsory for all government departments to construct new buildings according to the quake resistant structures.  


Officials said that the cell will also conduct a training programme for doctors on disaster preparedness in which 50 doctors including 15 from Jammu region would be trained. 


The area of concern for the government and other agencies are the rural and far-flung areas of the state were lack of resources and modern building plans are still not been implemented. The cell has also approached the respective District Commissioners to nominate engineers and other technical staff so that they could be imparted training.

Ban of private practice by doctors, teachers: Will it stand test of time

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 28: Though recently High Court of Jammu and Kashmir has banned the private practice of doctors and teachers, but again the question is can this menace be eradicated from the state.


This is not the first time when court has intervened to bring reforms in the both the crucial sectors of the society which has become a big money minting sector in Jammu and Kashmir.


The private sector has always been a profitable option for doctors and teachers serving in a government set-up, which graft the disparity in salary and working hours.


But, the ban imposed on private practice of government teachers and doctors by setting aside the part of instructions contained in Circular No. EDU-PS/C/S/11 dated August 11, 2005 by the Division Bench of State High Court comprising Chief Justice F M Ibrahim Kalifulla and Justice Virender Singh has irked both the professionals.


But big question still remain will this act of court put a curb on this menace.


Earlier steps were taken in this regard, but they had failed. Even strong measures by the government have failed to end this menace.


The state government had allowed medical teacher to practice privately after completing their duty hours at public hospitals. When they reviewed the order this year, they found that a few doctors attached to government hospitals had actually opted for private practice.


However, medical teachers claim that more than 40% government doctors indulge in private practice, but most of them prefer not to disclose details to the 
government.


"A large chunk of doctors among us do not opt for private practice officially, but enjoy the perks of working in a private set-up and also take the non-practicing allowance from the government. This is the main reason the government has issued the order," said an official requesting anonymity.


Sources said that in Jammu province there are around 70 to 80 private tuitions centres where the government teacher are taking classes of different subjects.


They also said that most of the teachers forced to the students in schools to take extra classes from them if they (student) wants to get good marks in assignments and other internals of the schools.


On the other side, the doctors serving in the government hospitals are busy in earning extra bulks by doing private practices. By giving precious gift items the private pharmaceuticals companies attracting the doctors towards private practices.


Now, the question arises will the concerned department take any concrete step on their employees who are doing private practices and taking private tuitions?

Govt. sleeping: Tainted officials run show at HP&M Deptt

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, Nov 21: At a time when the government is making tall claims of eradication corruption in the government departments, tainted officials against whom there are pending cases of corruption in Crime Branch and Vigilance department, are running the show at Horticulture, Planning and Marketing(HP&M ) Department in Jammu and Kashmir.

Even both the officials have figured in the tainted officials list of Legislative Assembly during the past three years but despite clear cases of corruption against them they continue to take part in policy decisions of the department.  

Sources said that despite involvement of these officials in the embezzlement of crores of rupees, they have been given important assignments owing to their proximity with some ministers. Deputy Director, Kashmir, M.S Teli, has pending vigilance case against him for withdrawal of salary to the tune of Rs 6 lakh at a time against the post of Deputy Director and General Manager, Kashmir Fruit Federation (KFF).
But despite proven case of fraud no action has been taken against him so far.

“Though after the department inquiry, he returned back the money but despite committing fraud and misuse of position, he was allowed to go scot-free and even continues to enjoy power and authority in the department”, said a source.

If sources are to be believed, Crime Branch and Vigilance Department is also holding inquiry against Teli in alleged bungling in the Market Intervention Scheme (MIS). Sources said that for last six months his promotion for the post of Joint Director is pending as the higher authorities, considering his tainted record, is not issuing the mandatory Integrity Certificate ”, they alleged.

Similarly, Assistant Director, Shakuat Ahmed Khan, who also holds a key position in the department, is under scanner of crime branch and vigilance for his alleged role in misuse of public money during his posting. A senior officer alleged that there are Directions from the Administrative Department not to give any important assignment to Shaukat Ahmed Khan, but he has been given key role in organizing ongoing Fruit Mela,   in Jammu , besides other important assignments in the general functioning of the department.

As per the rules any official against whom there are allegations of corruption should not be allowed to take part in decision making but in case of these two officials, rules and regulations are being floated, clearly exposing the hollow claims of fight against corruption.

“Even the eye brows have been raised on the recently held fruit mela organised in Jammu, where fruits brought directly from the farmers were sold at higher prices. They were sold much above the market rate starting from Rs 60 to Rs 200. If these are brought from the cultivators directly, then why these are being sold at such high rates. The purpose of the whole show is doubtful”, alleged an official.

However, Director Horticulture Planning and Marketing, Muhammad Javed Khan said that the vigilance department has given No Objection Certificate (NoC) to both the officers.