Srinagar, Jan 5: The Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has stopped oil supply to the associated hospitals of Government Medical College here leaving the heating system defunct.
 A top official of the IOC said they had valid reasons to stop the supply to these hospitals. “We are seeking explosive certificate from them since September last year. We repeatedly informed the authorities to come up with the certificate, but they failed. As a responsible corporate sector, we decided to stop the oil supply,” the official said.
 The explosive certificate is mandatory for getting oil supply for hospitals.
 Sources said the GMC Srinagar has not acquired the certificate from the past 30 years. This is construed as brazen violation of the Explosive Act.
 The decision has taken the hospital authorities by surprise. The Lal Ded and the SMHS hospital has almost run out of supply, while as the Chest Disease Hospital has supply for next ten days.
 The IOC has sought certificate following outcry over death of nearly 100 people after a hospital caught fire in Kolkatta on December 9.
 Government Medical College’s (GMC) principal’s phone was switched off.  The Secretary Health didn’t pick up the phone.
 The decision of the IOC has created problems for hundreds of patients and their attendants in different hospitals. “If for years together they have supplied the oil without even looking whether the hospital has safety measures or not, why all of  the sudden they disconnected the supply, that too in winter,” said a doctor pleading anonymity.
 The decision of the IOC is likely going to affect hospital functioning in coming days. In case power supply gets disconnected generators won’t function.
 Doctors said this could hit functioning of the hospitals in the Valley.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Jan 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 5 Jan 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 6 Jan 2012 00:00:00 IST