Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 23: With a view to make much delayed Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) at Resham Ghar, which would be part of the Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu, functional by the end of December this year, the Government has decided to recruit 50 per cent Super Specialty staff, which was not available in Jammu and Kashmir, from outside the State. Rest of 50 per cent staff would be local.
On apprehensions of faculty members that it would be difficult to shift and run six super specialties in the SSH Jammu without Emergency, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad, a former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, has agreed to consider the State Government’s demand for release of Rs 10 crore for construction of additional Emergency in the SSH.
Reviewing working of the SSH at a high level meeting here attended by top brass of Central agencies, engaged in construction and arranging infrastructure for the new hospital and officers of Medical Education Department of the State Government, Mr Azad said the SSH Jammu should be commissioned by the end of December this year as various deadlines for the prestigious project have already expired.
Previously, the State Government has set the deadline of September 30 for start of the hospital where six Super Specialties are to be accommodated. They included Cardiology, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS), Neurology, Neuro Surgery, Nephrology and Nephro Surgery.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Mr Azad has decided to hold review meeting on the progress of the SSH Jammu every month-either in Jammu or in New Delhi-till commissioning of the hospital. Next review meeting has been fixed on October 25.
Top officials of Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and Hindustan Latex Limited, which were involved in construction of the SSH building and purchase of infrastructure respectively also attended the meeting along with Deputy Chief Minister Tara Chand Medical Education Minister RS Chib, Health and Medical Education Secretary M K Dwivedi, GMC Principal Dr Aniece Choudhary and other senior officials of the State Government.
Sources said Mr Azad directed both Centre and State Government officials besides top brass of CPWD and HLL that the process of construction including modular Operation Theatres and purchase of infrastructure should be expedited so that the new hospital was commissioned by the end of December this year.
On recruitment of staff for new hospital including the faculty members, the State Government has reportedly decided that it would go for direct recruitment of 50 per cent staff for Super Specialties from outside the State. Rest 50 per cent staff would be recruited from within the State.
Sources confirmed that there was no option but to go for outside recruitment in relaxation of rules as entire faculty to run the Super Specialties was not available in the State. The Government would ensure that process of the recruitment was completed in December before commissioning of the new hospital.
While the CPWD was responsible for construction of the hospital, HLL was purchasing the infrastructure including for three modular OTs.
On the demand of faculty members of Super Specialties, which were being shifted to the SSH for construction of full fledged Emergency in the new premises to avoid shifting of patients to the GMC Jammu, the State Government projected demand for separate Emergency in the SSH.
Sources said Mr Azad has agreed to consider the demand for release of Rs 10 crore for construction of separate Emergency in the SSH so that the patients of the Super Specialties were not required to shuttle between the SSH and the GMC in case of Emergency. The faculty had been pointing out that shifting of critical patients from the SSH to the GMC could sometime prove fatal due to traffic jams on the road between the two hospitals.
The Government of India has so far released Rs 115 crore for construction and purchase of infrastructure for the SSH Jammu. The State Government has released its share of Rs 20 crore for the prestigious hospital.
The State Government has also proposed a multi-storey parking for the hospital, sources said.
Ruling out privatization of the SSH, a proposal mooted earlier by the State Government in the absence of faculty members for running Super Specialties, sources said the Government has not decided to have at least first three years’ Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) with CPWD and HLL for maintenance of the building, infrastructure and other facilities till it managed to generate its own men and machinery for the purpose.
The two agencies (CPWD and HLL), whose top officials were present in the meeting, have agreed to provide the services for maintenance of building and infrastructure to the SSH Jammu for three years, sources said.
The Super Specialty Hospital was announced in February 2004 for many States including Jammu. A lot of time was consumed for identification of the site for its construction. Finally, the construction was taken up at Resham Ghar as it was close to existing GMC Jammu.
Sources said majority part of construction of Super Specialty Hospital excepting three Modular Theatres has been completed. With construction of advanced theatres and recruitment of staff, the hospital would be commissioned.
Meanwhile, Mr Azad visited the statue of Maharaja Hari Singh at Tawi bridge this morning on his 117th birth anniversary and offered him floral tributes. He recalled services of the Maharaja to the State.
Speaking to reporters briefly, he reiterated that there was no threat to the UPA Government, which, he said, enjoyed majority with support of over 300 MPs.
He said it was during the rule of Maharaja that the State got two hospitals and a canal. He lauded contribution of Maharaja towards the State.
Mr Azad, who had reached here yesterday afternoon, returned to New Delhi this afternoon. Like yesterday, today also Mr Azad met a number of delegations both within and outside the party and listened to their problems in a workers meeting at the Guest House.
Mr Azad said that final touches are being given to the logistics and other infrastructural activities. While three Integrated Modular OTs have been put in place, remaining are in the pipeline. These, along with other diagnostic equipment like dialysis, are in the process of procurement and expected to arrive here by October 15. Accordingly, these will be installed by year end, he added.
Emphasizing the need for ensuring high standards in diagnostic equipment and the infrastructural edifice, the Union Minister said that the focus should be laid on ‘‘how we can extend optimum relief to the people within the State thus saving them from waiting for months in super specialties outside the State for specialized treatment.”
Mr Azad directed the HLL authorities for taking up installation of the remaining OTs by October and complete the process in all respects by December end. He asked the HLL to take care of maintenance of their equipments installed in the SSH besides directing CPWD to maintain the building infrastructure for a period of two years.
The Union Minister suggested outsourcing of such diagnostic equipments that were not readily available so that the patients are not made to venture out for getting the tests done. ‘‘It will have to be made mandatory for outsourced units to strictly adhere to the rates fixed by the Government for various tests,’’ he said.
Mr Azad asked the officers to set a timeline for every work separately for their expeditious completion.
He went round SSH and took stock of several equipments besides inspecting the quality of work. He gave on the spot instructions for redoing the works quality of which was not up to the standard. He also stressed on maintaining the aesthetic grandeur of the hospital and its periphery besides focusing on health and hygiene.
He hoped that the calendar of activities will be observed with urgency so that periodical reviews of the work done could be undertaken so as to meet the deadline.
Mr. Chib briefed the Union Minister about status of works completed and in the process of completion in SSH and thanked him for personally visiting this prestigious project which will help in streamlining its completion. He requested him for additional funds for construction of a separate emergency block and multi-storied parking in the SSH.
Secretary Health and Medical Education M. K. Dwivedi gave presentation over the status of different works undertaken so far.
While 819 posts of various categories of staff have been created, process for appointment of 214 para medics is underway. Besides, process for floating tenders for security and sanitation services, outsourcing of laundry and diet services, establishment of drug store, ambulance services, segregation of departments on the pattern of AIIMS etc. has also been initiated, he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel