WE THE PEOPLE
Jammu Health Sector Far Superior To Kashmir In All Its Departments
Hence People urge Govt., to make up deficiencies to maintain Regional Balance
By: Mirror News Service
Srinagar: In our first Part on comparative study of the graph of development having taken place in the State of J&K, it has been established beyond any shadow of doubt that Kashmir valley is far behind to its counter Region. We have focused on the realities of clear dominance of Jammu region over Kashmir Valley in terms of industrial, economical and traditional related development.
The Health sector, which is one of the main indicators of the development of any concerned region is also in bleak condition in the Kashmir Valley as compared to Jammu wherein it has progressed at a fast pace.
The scenario related to Medical Education and condition of Hospitals is much better in Jammu as compared to the valley of Kashmir. Ground realities clearly prove this reality.
Established in 1959. the Government Medical College, Srinagar, is a premier Institute of J&K with the aim of imparting quality education and provide basic health services to the people of Jammu and Kashmir by producing doctors of high caliber from the valley itself to serve the large and rather backward population of the State. The college was ranked at number 4 in all India ranking of Medical Colleges and also retained this ranking for many years. But on account of turmoil of more than two decades coupled with inefficient administration, the College has lost much of its sheen and is now not among even the best 50 Medical Colleges of India.
In fact, over the past decade, the threat of de-recognition has loomed large over the GMC Srinagar. As a matter of fact, just a year back came the decision of Medical Council of India to de-recognize two important faculties of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar. The faculties of Dermatology and Ophthalmology have been debarred from conducting Master’s Courses and awarding degrees, so this Medical College has lost its place in the list of Colleges which were far behind it in all aspects. The Premier public health care Hospital possesses only one CT Scan machine .In the SMHS Hospital, one of the main Hospital affiliated with the GMC Srinagar, there are just five Ventilators in the Hospital, a MRI Machine and only two Dialysis machines out here. The Medical experts and doctor’s point out that a tertiary care Hospital like SMHS at least requires 15 -20 Ventilators and 4-6 Dialysis machines and 5-6 CT Scan machines.
While comparing this with the equivalent –“GMC Jammu” and the obtrusive differences in infrastructure are self evident between the health related infrastructure in Kashmir Valley and Jammu region. There are 16 Ventilators in GMC, Jammu out of which 8 are in ICU, 2 in resuscitation room, one each in Medical ICU, Surgical ICU, Orthopedic ICU, SMGS Hospital, Pediatric ICU and Coronary Care Unit of Medical College. The Hospital also possesses a separate Dialysis Unit with several Haemodialysis Machines’.
In contrast to GMC Srinagar, the Jammu Government Medical College has also grown impressively. Currently, the GMC Jammu is catering to the patients from whole of Jammu province, part of Kashmir valley and adjoining areas of neighboring States of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. The staff shortage and paucity of other professionals, such as Professors and Lecturers is acutely felt in the GMC Srinagar, while this is not the case with the GMC Jammu.
Sources have revealed to us that almost in every District Hospital of the Kashmir Valley; the shortage of human resource related to Paramedical staff and paucity of doctors is felt and in contrast to this the District hospitals of Jammu are functioning quite smoothly. The nepotism and favoritism has crept into the Kashmir's Health Sector as majority of doctors are reluctant to serve in rural areas which is making the matters worse and to add to this there is very little action against them.
Ground realities clearly suggest that Jammu is having a much dynamic and effective health sector as compared to Health Sector of Kashmir Valley. (To be continued)
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