Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 11: People of Jammu are up in arms against the apparent attempt of privatizing medical facilities in Government Medical College Jammu where diagnostic equipments are being installed on Public-Private (PP) mode.
After CT scan and MRI units, diagnostic laboratory in GMC Jammu is also being covered under PP mode for the reasons best known to the authorities in Department of Medical Education.
Pertinent to mention that on the direction of the Minister for Medical Education, Taj Mohi-ud-Din, equipments are being installed in the GMC Jammu on PP mode.
Since the private sector has only one agenda and that is money, installation of equipments on PP-mode is all set to cost general public heavily as they will have to pay for the medical facilities in Government hospital.
Not only general public, even faculty members in GMC Jammu also have reservations over the move on PP mode, which will lead to privatization of GMC Jammu.
According to Medical Teachers Association, Jammu, installation of equipments on PP mode within the GMC shall adversely affect the sanctity of the Medical College as well as teaching as the private players will neither allow the resident staff to handle their equipments nor allow them to be party to reporting and learning.
Moreover, this step shall affect the basic training of Resident Doctors in particular and patient care in general, the Association said in a memorandum submitted to the Minister for Medical Education.
The medical faculty is also up in arms against the appointment of people from private sector as Directors and Advisors in the Super Specialty Hospital on part time basis.
This was evident when all Heads of the Department boycotted a meeting convened by Principal GMC Shashi Gupta on verbal direction of the Minister for issuing necessary instructions on reporting to Dr U C Koul, who has been recently appointed as Advisor SSH Jammu.
The senior faculty members feel that a person who always preferred private sector for earning more money instead of serving people in a Government hospital, is understood to be least concerned for welfare of the institution.
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