Jammu’s demand for AIIMS rests on its poor health facilities

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, May 28

The struggle for establishment of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jammu, which is currently being seen through the prism of regionalism, has its roots in long yearning of the people in this mountainous region for better healthcare facilities.

Even if one goes by merit, the Jammu region comprising 10 districts, mostly hilly and mountainous, easily qualifies for the setting up of AIIMS.

Over the years, the medical facilities had not been quantitatively and qualitatively commensurate with increasing population, which had grown up to 53.78 lakh in 2011 from just 27.18 lakh in 1981.

Geographically, the Jammu region has 26,293 sq km area compared to 15,948 sq km area of the Kashmir Valley, which has the total population of 68.88 lakh, including Ladakh.

Official statistics also paint a grim picture of existing healthcare facilities for the people in Jammu region. Out of a total 358 sanctioned posts of faculty in Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu, nearly 45 per cent posts of senior consultant, consultant, medical officer remain vacant.

GMCH, Jammu, has been catering to the patients from whole of Jammu province, part of the Kashmir valley and Ladakh, and adjoining areas of neighbouring states like Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.

Furthermore, over 10 million Vaishno Devi pilgrims besides lakhs of tourists visit Jammu every year.

Due to shortage of specialists, the people are forced to move out of the state for treatment.

Ten districts of Jammu are also worst-affected vis-à-vis availability of doctors for patients as more than 50 per cent posts of doctor are lying vacant in government hospitals in these districts.

Out of the total 1,604 sanctioned posts of doctor in the Jammu region, 825 posts in Jammu are lying vacant.

With the establishment of AIIMS in Jammu, it will not only cater to local populace, pilgrims and tourists, but also patients of neighbouring states like Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Sunil Kumar, a student of Political Science, said: “Unfortunately, there is a clear design by some rabid communalists and their underlings in Jammu, to make it as Jammu versus Kashmir issue and divide the hills and plains of Jammu on communal lines.”

“Jammu’s demand is not against Kashmir. The region is asking for its right to have better access to medical facilities,” he said.

Prof Hari Om, a noted historian, said: “Chief Minister’s statement that it is just a half-an-hour flight and four-hour highway travel for patients from Jammu to get treatment at AIIMS in Kashmir is quite absurd. He should first explain why the vice-versa is not possible.”

“Jammu has been demanding AIIMS on the basis of merit. The demand is quite genuine,” he said.

“AIIMS will be set up at an estimated cost of Rs 1,500 crore. It will bring more super specialties for the patients who so far had been forced to go either to Delhi or Chandigarh for treatment. Highly qualified faculty, latest technological advancements and equipments will be brought to Jammu,” said a senior doctor at GMCH.