The vision of providing Jammu a prestigious medical institute on the lines of AIIMS was first mooted by the former Prime Minster, Atal Bihari Vajpayee almost towards the closing days of his Government in 2004. The State Government pursued the proposal with central authorities, and it emerged that the project would be jointly financed by the State and the Centre. Location was the first issue. Proposal of Narwal as the site did not go through since it fell outside five kilometer distance from the Government Medical College. The State Government purchased land from Sericulture Department at Resham Garh which was approved, and orders were passed for the execution of the project.
Nine years have gone by when the idea of a Super Speciality Hospital for Jammu was mooted. The dream is coming true even if the work was conducted at snail’s pace. There were many hiccups, most of which have been resolved but some remain. Nevertheless, Jammu region has achieved big success in having a prestigious medical institute where treatment of special quality will be available to the needy. The Secretary-Commissioner Health Services has said that 30 April was set as the deadline for shifting six super speciality departments from Government Hospital to the Super Speciality complex. It means four days from now, the shifting will begin and then the six specialities will start functioning in the new complex.
Rapid increase in urban population, growing sense of health awareness, developed techniques of treatment and further researches in medical health etc. were the compulsions for the Government to nurse the idea of having a Super Speciality Hospital in Jammu. The Government Medical Hospital as it is today is unable to cope with the growing need of patients in terms of availability of medical support either in the area of faculty or infrastructure. Therefore at a cost of 120 crore rupees, of which 100 crore has been provided by the Union Health Ministry and the remaining 20 crore by the State Government, the new Super Speciality Complex has come up at Resham Garh, in the heart of the city and at walking distance from the Government Medical College.
However, mega projects like the one under consideration are not without some difficulties and obstructions. Creating a medical institute does not mean only raising the mountains of bricks and mortar. It is a very complex project involving so many things, very special to the type of service it is expected to render. The Secretary-Commissioner to Health Department has rightly said that after the six super specialities shift to the new complex, the picture will be clearer as to what is on the deficit side that needs to be looked into. For example, the new complex does not have the Emergency Wing which could be the debility. But experts believe that these shortcomings could be met in due course of time and are not at all any permanent obstacle. Yet another difficulty with which the project is faced, and of course which is of serious nature, is non-availability of adequately qualified faculties for the Super Specialities. The Government shall have to make some relaxation in rules and also consider special perks and incentives to the faculties willing to be considered for filling vacancies in the new hospital. It will be reminded that when the prestigious Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Services (SKIMS) was first started at Soura in Srinagar way back in late 1970s, it was also initially handicapped by non availability of special faculties. Nevertheless the Government did make some concessions and could rope in faculties and make the prestigious institute run as normal. This precisely should be the policy to be pursued in the case of the Jammu Super Speciality Hospital.
Efficiency, dedication, and sense of service are the factors that will determine the functioning of this institute.
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