Srinagar, Dec 29: While Jammu and Kashmir Government is projecting the establishment of  JK Health and Medical Education Supplies Corporation as a major reform in the ailing health sector of the State, the same Corporation couldn’t take off  nearly a decade ago due to apathetic attitude of the  authorities at helm in the Health Department. 
 Highly placed sources told Greater Kashmir that the idea of establishing the Corporation for streamlining purchases in the health sector  is not a new initiative in Jammu and Kashmir  as the State Cabinet headed by the  then Chief Minister Mufti Muhammed Sayeed had approved the same in 2003.
 “The State Cabinet through its decision number – 115/ 8 dated 23-06-2003 consented to the establishment of the Corporation on the lines of Tamil Nadu Medical Supplies Corporation,” they said, adding that officails of Health Department had then undertaken visit to Tamil Nadu  to  have first hand account of the working of such Corporation and to repeat the model here.
 Not only this, the Corporation, according to sources, was then even registered with the Registrar of Companies, Ministry of Finance.
 “But  the Corporation couldn’t start functioning due to assigning of charge of its Managing Director to the officials already holding assignments in the Department. The charge of MD was then given to State Project Director AIDS Control and Director Family Welfare and it was major cause behind the failure of the Corporation,” they disclosed.
 “Besides its registration also lapsed as State Government did not pursue the matter further.”  
 Pertinently, if all goes well Jammu and Kashmir would have a full-fledged Drug Corporation in next month.
 The proposal of establishing the  Corporation has got nod from the Planning & Development Department, Finance Department and Health Minister Sham Lal Sharma and is awaiting assent  of Medical Education Minister RS Chib for placing it before the State cabinet for consideration.
 The proposal to  establish Drug Corporation in JK  was mooted to overcome lengthy and cumbersome procedural wrangles involved in  purchase of drugs for government health institutions.
 At present, four committees- Purchase Committee for Jammu, Purchase Committee for Srinagar, Purchase Committee for Dental College and Purchase Committee for Indian System of Medicines- is involved in procurement of drugs for hundreds of health institutions of the State.
 An official, wishing anonymity, while outlining the  contours of proposed Drug Corporation said that it would have full-fledged Managing Director like other Corporations functioning here.
 “It would have fourteen member Board of Directors including Principals of Government Medical Colleges, Directors of Health and Secretary to Government Health & Medical Education Department,” he said, adding that  planning & Development Department had given its  assent for creation of 22 staffers for running the Corporation.
 “The Finance Department had also agreed to financial implications involved in it but with certain conditions,” the official added.

Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Dec 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sat, 29 Dec 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sun, 30 Dec 2012 00:00:00 IST