Srinagar, Apr 1: An ambitious proposal to establish a separate bio-medical engineering wing in Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Kashmir has been grounded allegedly due to failure of the Medical Education Department (MED) to pursue the case with the General Administration Department.
 The proposal that was aimed at benefiting a huge chunk of specialized engineers and technicians, and to save public exchequer from the unnecessary Annual Maintenance Costs of diagnostic equipments, has failed to take off due to alleged indifference of the Department even after the announcement by the Minister for Medical and Technical Education, RS Chib in the assembly last year.
 With this around 1500 trained engineers and technicians in the Valley, who had already completed their degrees and diplomas, were left in lurch.
 Officials said the recommendations were send to GAD last year for the approval of proposed engineering wings at Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMC&H) Jammu and Government Medical College and Hospitals (GMC&H) Srinagar following the announcement by the Minister.
 The Minister had maintained that it was necessary to open a separate wing in these institutions to ensure the maintenance of equipments purchased since past few years and new ones to be brought in future.
 However, sources said the proposal has been grounded due to the official negligence to pursue the case and complete various formalities with GAD.
 Official documents revealed the Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education received several communications from Government Medical Colleges and the Directorate of Health Services (DHS) of both regions about the “dire need” of such engineers.
 It said the GMC Srinagar and its associated hospitals have an immediate requirement of 13 service engineers, 18 technicians and 10 assistant technicians, while GMC Jammu and its hospitals have a dire need of 14 service engineers, 17 technicians and 15 assistant technicians.
 Similarly, the DHS in Kashmir and Jammu have conveyed an urgent need of Medical Electronic Engineers in Health care section of the state.
 The problem is more acute in health centers at district level, which had to face a major problem in case of any fault. “At times machines remain out of order for days and weeks together as there is no engineering staff to take care of these. Either these are to be send outside the state, or engineers had to be brought from private manufactures which is very cumbersome process”, officials complain.
 Officials said that the major equipments installed in different departments of Medical Colleges many equipments are non-functional, which need minor or major repairs. “This is a major problem when any equipment develops some snag, we have to wait for the repair work for days together as we don’t have much trained staff. At times just a minor fault puts the machine out of order for days”, said the insiders.
 They said the department presently takes the service of outside engineers through private firms, which charge huge amount for the service and damage repairs. “It is a huge burden on public exchequer,” the officials said.
 The Department of IT, Government of India has already opened two branches of DOACC in the State, one each in Jammu and Srinagar which are the only existing repair centers for such equipments.
 When contacted, the Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, GA Peer said he had no knowledge of the proposal. “I cannot furnish you details as I have already given the charge of the department to my successor,” he said.
 Despite repeated attempts Minister for Medical Education, RS Chib couldn’t be contacted.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 1 Apr 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Apr 2012 00:00:00 IST