Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 22: Taking serious note of delay in start of Super Specialty Hospital (SSH) at Resham Ghar, Jammu, which would be part of the Government Medical College (GMC), Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad last evening held a high level review meeting in New Delhi and would be holding another review meeting here tomorrow afternoon.
Tomorrow’s meeting would be attended by top officials of Central agencies, engaged in execution of work at the SSH and senior officials of the State Government. Medical Education Minister RS Chib, who was present at yesterday’s meeting in New Delhi, would also be present in tomorrow’s meeting.
Official sources told the Excelsior that Mr Azad had a meeting in New Delhi last evening along with Mr Chib and officials of his Ministry looking after Jammu and Kashmir and voiced concern over delay in start of the SSH despite more than seven years of its announcement and expiry of various deadlines set by the State Government.
The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has provided funds well in time and instructed Central agencies including Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and Hindustan Latics Limited (HLL) to ensure construction and installation of infrastructure respectively well in time to ensure early completion of the prestigious project.
The Health and Medical Education Ministry of the State, which had repeatedly revised deadline for completion of the SSH—the latest one being the current month of September, has once again deferred the deadline to December end.
Sources said since Mr Chib also held the CPWD and the HLL responsible for delay in completion of the prestigious project, Mr Azad decided to take an on spot assessment of the situation on Sunday along with top brass of CPWD, HLL, other Central agencies, officials of his Ministry and top brass of the Medical Education Department of the State Government.
Mr Azad, who reached here this afternoon from New Delhi, would be chairing the meeting at 2 pm tomorrow.
Sources said Mr Azad wanted immediately completion of the SSH as its start has already been delayed. The start of the hospital would go a long way in helping the ailing community of the State as it was scheduled to house six super specialties.
Staff and infrastructure for the SSH were also the major problems. The State Government had to arrange the staff to run six super specialties including Cardiology, Cardio Thoracic Vascular Surgery (CTVS), Neurology, Neuro Surgery, Nephrology and Nephro Surgery, which would be housed in the SSH.
The State Government had in June revised deadline of starting the SSH to September. This has now further been revised to December end.
When approached for his comments, Mr Chib, who attended last evening’s meeting at New Delhi, said all aspects of delay followed by efforts to start the hospital at the earliest would be discussed at tomorrow’s meeting here. He said Mr Azad has called senior officials of CPWD, HLL and other agencies for the meeting. Similarly, top officials of State Government’s agencies engaged in executing the work including Medical Education Ministry would also be present.
Mr Chib said the Government would be trying to start the SSH by the end of December this year.
Worthwhile to mention here that the HLL had to construct Modular Operation Theatres in the SSH. Several faculty members in the GMC, whose super specialties were to be shifted to the SSH wanted entire infrastructure to be completed first before shifting to the new premises. They were of the view that shifting the super specialties without emergency services could prove disastrous for the patients as the road between the SSH and the GMC remained jammed quite often.
“Till infrastructure for emergency services was created, it would be no fun to shift to the SSH. The patients had to shuttle between the SSH and the GMC. The shifting should take place only when everything including staff and infrastructure was ready’’, they 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 met party Ministers, legislators, office bearers and workers at Guest House this evening and reviewed political scenario including working of National Conference-Congress Coalition Government with them. A large number of party leaders and workers met Mr Azad and apprised him of their problems.
Mr Azad also reviewed the Congress affairs in Jammu and Kashmir with the party Ministers, legislators and office bearers. He was with the party leaders for more than two hours.
In a brief chat with reporters on the sidelines of the party meeting, Mr Azad said the present UPA-II Government at the Centre headed by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh was completely stable.
“There was no threat to the Government’’, he said.
“Earlier, we had completed out term with 250 plus MPs but now our strength is more than 300. Therefore, there was no threat to the Union Government, which was stable and committed to initiate reforms for betterment of the country’’, he added and thanked Mulayam Singh led Samajwadi Party and Mayawati headed Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP) for extending support to the UPA.
To a question on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, Mr Azad said some opposition parties were opposing the decision just for the sake of opposition.
“The decision (FDI in retail) is good for the country. It would generate employment, bring capital from foreign and help the people. It is a good decision taken in the interest of the country and the people’’, he added.
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