Srinagar, June 22: Medical Education Minister RS Chib Friday convened a meeting to discuss the performance of associated hospitals of Government Medical College Srinagar.
 Sources said that the participants complained about lack of funds and in the hospitals.
 Among those present in the meeting included Secretary Health, M.K. Dwivedi, Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Baseer Khan, Additional Commissioner, Kashmir, Abdul Majeed, MD, JKPCC, M.M. Gupta, Chief Engineer, R&B, Mushtaq Ahmad Lone, Principal, Govt. Medical College, Srinagar, Dr. R.A. Pampori and Medical Superintendents of Associated Hospitals, except GB Pant Hospital.
 “The absence MS GB Pant was surprising for every participant,” a senior official who was part of meeting told Greater Kashmir. “The hospital is facing criticism for infant deaths and the presence of MS was must. The matters related to GB Pant were discussed superficially.”
 However, an official spokesman said here that Principal, Govt. Medical College Srinagar was directed to coordinate with the district administration and Cantonment Board for streamlining the arrangements of sanitation /security in the G.B. Pant Hospital. The Deputy Commissioner was asked to monitor these arrangements.
 Dr Muneer Masoodi confirmed that he was not part of the meeting. “I was not invited at all,” he told Greater Kashmir adding that Principal GMC was there.
 The official said that during the meeting the participants complained about lack of funds. They told the minister that there is a drug liability of crores pending in GMC Srinagar. “The suppliers have refused to give further drugs and people suffer. The hospitals are in need of massive flow of funds,” the minister was told.
 An official spokesman said here that in order to improve the functioning of Government Medical College and its Associated Hospitals at Srinagar, the Minister for Medical Education convened a meeting of senior officers.
 The meeting reviewed the progress of execution of new block and STP at LD Hospital and issued directions to the concerned agencies to complete the work within a stipulated time frame. Taking serious note of the slow progress of the work the Minister directed the UEED engineers to work in double shift and accomplish the works on fast track basis.
 The meeting was informed that the Theatre Block at Bone and Joint Hospital is almost complete except lift and Laundry Block. It was informed that the lift be installed within a period of one month while as the OTs will be operationalzed within a couple of months. The progress of the OTs will be reported by the concerned officers to the Principal Government Medical College on weekly basis. As regard commissioning of Attendants’ Sarai at Govt. Medical College, the MD, JKPCC informed that the building is near completion and final touches are being given.
 Regarding sanitation outside the hospital premises, the Minister directed SMC authorities to ensure proper cleanliness of the area every day. He directed the SMC authorities to furnish the list of sanitation staff deployed in the area to the Medical Superintendent of the hospital to ensure accountability.
 The Minister spokesman said also directed for further strengthening the security arrangements in the GMC and associated hospitals to avoid any untoward situation. He stressed the need for ensuring close coordination between the hospital authorities and police department which oversees the arrangements.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 22 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 23 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST