Srinagar, May 4: State government has not renewed the licenses of the Ultrasonography Clinics (USG) in the Valley since 2009, sources told Greater Kashmir on Wednesday.    
 “Above hundred clinic owners had applied for the renewal of registration with the Health department but none of the licenses were renewed,” they added.
 “There was political pressure on the former director for registration process. Even the department had conducted inspections of several clinics but no license was granted,” officials said.
 “Politicians wanted the department to provide licenses to a few blue eyed persons, but the former  Director Health didn’t succumb under pressure. The tussle led to cases gathering dust in files following which no licenses were granted,” sources added. 
 Laboratory owners, who had applied for the renewal as well as registration said, “We completed all the requisite formalities and also submitted Rs 2500 as renewal fees.”
 The officials, according to the laboratory owners, assured them that they would not be disturbed. “Has anyone troubled you? Go and do your businesses,” lab owners quoted officials as having told them. 
 “If there were some flaws we could have taken care of these. The closure of our labs suddenly is unjustified,” said a lab owner at Dalgate. “Authorities need to explain why the renewal of our licenses was delayed?” they questioned.    
 When contacted the former Director Health Services Kashmir Muhammad Amin said the labs were not fulfilling the guidelines of prenatal sex determination. “They were not conforming the PNDT guidelines. And I didn’t succumb to political pressure,” he said.
 Talking to Greater Kashmir Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Saleem-ur-Rehman said the labs were closed owing to non-fulfillment of prescribed criteria. “I was not in charge that time. We found them working illegally,” said Dr Saleem.
 Minister of Health and Medical Education Javed Ahmad Dar said “What difference it makes, better late than never. The registration process would have got stuck due to turmoil in past years. And a few officers might have taken it lightly,” said Dar while referring to non-issuance of renewal certificates.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 May 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 4 May 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 May 2011 00:00:00 IST