Srinagar, Dec 5: Exactly a year ago at the annual day, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had issued warning to doctors working at SKIMS not to indulge in private practice since the valley’s premier health institute bans private practice and remunerates them with hefty incentives, and on Sunday he reiterated his threat to take stern action against them by issuing advertisement in newspapers about the clinics they are practicing in.
“It is most unfortunate that some doctors despite being bound by rules and regulations and receive non-practicing allowances resort to private practice,” Omar said addressing doctors and medical students on the 28th annual day function of SKIMS held at SKICC here.
He advised SKIMS doctors who indulge in private practice to shun it or face the consequences.
“Some members (doctors) have turned blind eye towards the ban on private practice. They are following private practice with blatant impunity. Either they should stop taking non-practicing allowance or stop practicing in private clinics. It is best opportunity for me, when everyone from SKIMS is here, to tell them that they should desist from private practice or face action,” he said.
Omar said, “I know who are you and where you do the practice. I know addresses of your clinics. Please, don’t force me to issue an advertisement in the newspaper and seize your clinics.”
Pertinently, a professor at SKIMS draws atleast Rs 1.12 lakh salary, associate professor  Rs 90,000 and assistant professor Rs 55,000 salary.
Officials at SKIMS said the faculty of SKIMS draws salary at pat with All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Omar after releasing the annual report of SKIMS said his grandfather Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah established SKIMS on the banks of Aanchar lake with two objectives: providing treatment to poor and for promoting medical tourism.
“SKIMS was vision of Sher-i-Kashmir. It was born with two objectives though they are contrary but complimentary. To ensure that poor people of Kashmir do not have to travel to other parts of country for treatment. And to promote medical tourism by providing world class treatment on the banks of Aanchar lake,” Omar said.
“Unfortunately, Man proposes God disposes. We have not realized the vision of Sher-i-Kashmir,” he said.
Omar said the development of SKIMS to the stage of world-class medical institute was hampered by three challenges which include circumstances, resources and in-house.
“I can think of favouritism within the faculty and occasional bouts of unionism that creep in as the challenges before the SKIMS,” he said.
Omar said, “I assure SKIMS administration, faculty and students that you will not find me and my colleagues not supporting you for the prosperity of SKIMS.”
Speaking on the occasion minister for medical education Dr R S Chib said Sheikh Abdullah went from pillar to post to establish the SKIMS for the poor people of Kashmir. Chib assured enhancement of post-graduate seats in the SKIMS.
Speaking on the occasion the director SKIMS, Dr Abdul Hamid Zargar talked about the human resource development and academic achievement of the SKIMS.
“In a significant up-gradation of the quality manpower, two dozen faculty members of SKIMS were promoted including four to the position of professors,” he said. Zargar said number of quality research papers was published by different departments in various national and international journals that won accolades.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Dec 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 5 Dec 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 6 Dec 2010 00:00:00 IST