Gopal Sharma
JAMMU, Aug 5: The Government today said that all the private nursing homes/ hospitals, diagnostic centers and clinical laboratories operating illegally, without valid license from State Health authorities will be sealed.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din told the Excelsior that fresh directions have been passed on to both the Directors of Health Services Kashmir and Jammu besides CMOs of all districts in the State including Ladakh to act swiftly and take serious note of the matter. The process has begun and the result would be before public shortly, he added.
When asked why the CMOs and even the concerned Block Medical Officers were sleeping over the matter and not acting in the interest of general public, the Health Minister said, “It is also part of their duty. Such instructions are already with them. It is their job to act and now fresh instructions have been issued to the Directors of both the regions to closely monitor the functioning of such establishments and take action. There may be some of the units which are close to the process of getting their establishments registered or get their license renewed, such people may get some relief,” the Minister added.
Mr Taj said the process has begun today from Mendhar town of Poonch and in coming days such action would also be visible in Srinagar, Jammu and all other districts of the State. He said there was need to keep check on the mushrooming growth of such establishments as they are dealing with the human life. They should have to be made accountable for any wrong doing. The Government would certainly act, Mr Taj maintained.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the report appearing in the `Excelsior’ on Tuesday regarding operation of nearly 40 illegal nursing homes and clinical labs in Rajouri and Poonch, the Health authorities and local administration in Mendhar launched operation today and sealed six illegally operating units.
Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mendhar, Romesh Kumar and BMO Dr Parvez, assisted by police today launched operation and sealed six illegally operating clinical labs and diagnostic centers in the town.
Chief Medical Officer Poonch, Dr Mumtaz Bhatti told the `Excelsior’ that out of the total nine such units functional in Mendhar, six were sealed today. Three of them had the valid license. These six units are M/s Mughal X-Ray Clinic, M/s S R Pathcare Clinical Lab, M/s Irfan Dental Clinic, M/s Star Dental Clinic, M/s Aftab Dental Clinic and M/s Friends Clinical Lab, Mendhar.
The CMO said that process has been started following directions from the top and teams are on the job in Surankote, Poonch and Mandi as well. He said some of them have submitted their documents to the directorate and they are in process of getting the license renewed. In Mendhar, the licenses of two establishments had expired and they had not obtained/ renewed their license. At least they should apply before the expiry of such license but most of them do this after the expiry of license. They must understand the necessity of getting the license renewed in time. Dr Bhatti said the validity of the license is one year and if the license of any such unit has expired it falls in the category of `illegal’.
Meanwhile, the promoters of Dr Nissar Surgical Hospital Rajouri and V- Care Clinical establishment Rajouri claimed that their units are registered but they are in the process of getting the license renewed.
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