Srinagar, Mar 12: Pharmaceutical and surgical traders today decided to snap medical and surgical equipments to Associated hospitals of Government Medical College Srinagar following non-payment of their pending bills.
 The move is likely to affect functioning of these hospitals and hit patient care 
 The traders said they were forced to snap all supplies including emergency surgical equipments to SMHS, Lal Ded and Bone and Joint hospitals as their bills amounting to over Rs 5 crore are yet to be cleared.
 “We have been approaching administration of SMHS, Lal Ded and Bone and Joint hospitals to clear our liabilities, but concerned medical superintendents say that they don’t have sufficient funds to release our payments. We also approached Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education, but his assurance on clearing the bills too proved hoax,” said the Association president, HU Zargar.
 He said the proposal regarding clearance of the bills has already been submitted to Principal Secretary to Government, Health and Medical Education Department.
 “Non-payment of bills by the department has crippled our business and we have been forced to snap our supplies to hospitals,” Zargar added.
 The traders said they have to pay loans with huge interest to various banks. But we are unable to clear owing to non-payment of our bills. We seek intervention of Chief Minister,” they said.
 Despite repeated attempts, Principal GMC Dr Qazi Masood couldn’t be contacted.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 12 Mar 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 13 Mar 2012 00:00:00 IST