There must be something of a speciality in respect of a Hospital known as All India Institute of medical Science as compared to a simple Hospital or even a Super Speciality Hospital. By what we know about the most prestigious AIIMS at New Delhi where medical science is increasingly advanced and is globally renowned and recognised for its technology driven approach and verily for that reason, patients from all over the country needing specialised treatment, visit this Hospital. Besides, it is to be believed that AIIMS is the dream professional college for all the medical aspirants of the country even for Doctors going in for higher studies and research. It is also a fact that despite there being SKIMS at Srinagar and a super speciality hospital in Jammu, still many patients from the UT have been regularly visiting for specialised treatment the AIIMS at New Delhi . There is , besides, a lot of scope for students from Jammu and Kashmir interested in medicines to go in for higher and specialised medical courses and training at institutes like the AIIMS. Added to it, the special interest taken by the Prime Minister in widening the horizon of healthcare infrastructure in Jammu and Kashmir including rolling out of more trained Doctors by sanctioning and subsequently opening of new 5 Medical colleges in the UT in Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anantnag and Baramulla most of which have started the process of being functional , two AIIMS one each at Awantipora in South Kashmir and Vijaypur Samba in Jammu too were sanctioned at a cost of Rs.1828 crore.
As we, many a time, voice concern about absence of foolproof measures and taking every care in selecting and acquiring land for prestigious projects like the one under reference being there, problems of various hues spring as also in absence of obtaining NOCs from various agencies especially institutions in the immediate neighbourhood , delays and even court proceedings come in the way of smooth execution of such projects. Not only this one of the main impediments but master plans in respect of associated construction works have to be changed many a time due to already existing or subsequently arising issues . The same , more or less, has happened in respect of the construction of AIIMS at Awantipur Kashmir where till date , a meagre 10 per cent of the construction work stands completed while that at Vijaypur Samba has over 50 percent of the construction work completed . An appraisal of project implementation in both the cases would reveal not only the gaps between the projections and actual achievements but a non-serious approach too. There can be unavoidable reasons too including COVID related constraints especially non- availability of labour as also two to three months of harsh winter but still such a low achievement in construction is not acceptable.
Anyway, it is heartening to note that the academic sessions are proposed to be started and first batch of students admitted somewhere in this very year so that one important part of the massive project witnesses actual implementation . Otherwise also, premises and ambiance etc for students, faculty and laboratory etc in respect of academic pursuits including a Medical College need not be conventional, massive and impressive as new concepts in it are making way for limited , economical and simple space while for setting up a 1000 bed capacity hospital with all the modern , latest and specialised facilities undoubtedly need a spacious space , a good ambiance with residential quarters of the staff and other paraphernalia .
The process of construction for all this can go on side by side but without disturbing the academics of the Institutes at both the centres. One care and caution , however, need to be taken in that there should be well organised moves and planning for providing the specialised faculty befitting the status of an AIIMS and not that somehow the maiden admission of students followed by starting the session of the first batch managed in respect of providing teaching staff and later resorting to ad-hoc measures which means willy – nilly compromising with the high standards of teaching , training and research in medical sciences for which an AIIMS is normally known. Undoubtedly , the establishing of AIIMS like medical institutions in Jammu and Kashmir will place the UT among the best equipped with healthcare and teaching and training medical institutions in the country.
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