Where building facelift gets priority over healthcare, infra

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, July 22

In a classic example of misplaced priorities, the state health department is more concerned about the beautification of the region’s lone tertiary care hospital — Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) Jammu — rather than focusing on improving healthcare facilities and raising basic infrastructure in the institution.

The health and medical education department’s massive facelifting of the main entrance gate to the hospital to show that the institution inside is a state-of-art health provider is a testimony to this fact.

On entering the hospital premises, the parking area presents a dismal picture as it remains totally blocked, creating a big impediment for patients to reach the OPD or even the emergency. Many a time, even ambulances carrying critical patients remain stuck in the traffic chaos.

“The CT scan machine in the Emergency unit of the hospital had been lying defunct for the last about three months, but the hospital authorities remained least concerned to repair it. It caused a lot of hardships to patients, particularly those who could not afford to undergo CT scans at private centres at exorbitant rates. It is not clear whether this kind of approach was to benefit private players or had other reasons,” regretted Amit Sharma, a resident of Mubarak Mandi.

Nearly 25-30 patients, mostly critically injured in road accidents, reach the GMC on a daily basis and they require the CT scan facility but they are forced to shell out a good amount at private CT scan centres. More importantly, the hospital administration has never bothered to replace the 12-year-old machine.

“The vital oncology department in the hospital does not have PET scan, latest technology equipment and lack adequate diagnostic equipment. Patients suffering from kidney, liver problems and even those recommended minor surgeries avoid this overcrowded hospital,” an official source said.

The source said almost 50 per cent of the sanctioned posts were vacant in the GMCH, while the lone Super Specialty Hospital, which is part of the GMCH, too, has been facing a major manpower crunch as about 128 posts of doctor are vacant in the hospital.

“All these issues do not seem to be on the priority list of the authorities, who are more focused on the beautification of the hospital premises,” the source said.

The hospital administration, however, preferred not to speak on the issue as they did not respond to repeated phone calls of this reporter.