Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, Mar 4: The new medical colleges are expected to produce around 500 doctors annually in Jammu and Kashmir, but the authorities seem least concerned in developing infrastructure to achieve the goal.
In 2013, the government announced five-medical colleges for Jammu and Kashmir. Five-years down the line, these colleges are expected to be made functional from June this year to produce more doctors.
But the question arises whether there will be any improvement in health sector, which is presently not in good shape.
The five new medical colleges have been established at Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anantnag, and Baramulla for which the Centre has sanctioned Rs 189 crore each. They will increase 500 medical seats in the state, 100 each in these medical colleges.
"Producing more 500 doctors annually will only help when the health infrastructure is developed," an official said.
The official said that government has failed to complete health projects, which are awaiting completion for the last so many years.
This could be gauged from the fact that that over 20 health projects started over eight-years-ago have not been completed.
The projects were to be completed by Jammu and Kashmir Projects Construction Corporation (JKPCC), and Roads and Buildings Department.
The official said that work on these projects was started 8 to 10 years ago. "The construction agencies are showing no concern in completion of the projects. Multiple deadlines have been missed in completion of these projects," the official said.
The work on district hospital Bandipora was started in 2006. Despite passing 11 years, the building has not been completed. Similarly, the construction work on sub-district hospitals of Rajpora Pulwama, Pakherpora Budgam, Kralpora Kupwara , Kremshore Budgam, Kulgam, IPD block district hospital Pulwama have not been completed over the years.
Work on sub-district hospital Rajouri was started in 2005 and has not been completed. There are several such projects on which construction work is going for a long time.
"Work on several projects is going for the last over a decade despite that they are yet to get completed," the official said.
The official said that government was not bothered in completion of these projects despite the state lacks health infrastructure. |
