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SKIMS authorities ‘force’ to close Surgical Oncology Deptt | Decision taken in the interest of patient care: Dir SKIMS | | EARLY TIMES REPORT Srinagar, Oct 17: Though number of cancer patients in Kashmir is increasing with the every passing day, authorities at state’s lone super-specialty hospital Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura are least bothered about the problem. A few months back on the directions of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, the SKIMS had started Surgical Oncology department for treatment of cancer patients. The CM on 26 May 2011 during a meeting held at his office chamber had ordered the Director SKIMS to provide logistics and manpower to the department on the urgent basis. Sources said on the orders of the CM, three beds in Ward Number 7 were allotted to the department on temporary basis. On September 30 vide order number SIMS/169 (P) the Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Ali Zarger ordered that 10 more beds should be allotted to the department. “In the interest of patient care service, 10 beds (from Bed No 19 to 28) of Ward 5A (Endocrinology Ward) are allotted to the Department of Surgical Oncology till further orders,” the order reads. However, just a week later on October 7, the order was revoked vide number SIMS/175 (P). “The office order issued vide number SIMS/169 (P) of 2011 regarding the above cited (allotment of 10 beds) is hereby put in abeyance till further orders,” it says. Sources told KNS that Director revoked the order after court stayed SKIMS authorities’ decision to appoint an ‘ineligible blue-eyed’ candidate Dr Nisar Ahmad Chowdary as Professor and Head of Department in the Surgical Oncology. “Dr Nisar isn’t eligible to be appointed as professor in Surgical Oncology under Medical Council of India guidelines as he is from General Surgery. When the court stayed the order, the Director revoked the earlier order to allot beds to the patients,” they said. A senior medico in the SKIMS while commenting on the issue said, “If 10 beds were required for patients when Dr Nisar was made HoD, how come in a single day when his order was stayed by the court, the need of beds for patients ended. Not only this, already allotted three beds in PMR Ward No 7 have also been taken back from the newly created Surgical Oncology department,” he said. “The SKIMS authorities have put the life of hundreds of cancer patients at risk as Dr Haji Altaf Gauhar, a specialist Surgical Oncologist who had returned from England last year to serve in the SKMS has decided to resign as there is no infrastructure available to him to perform surgeries. Dr Gauhar has performed dozens of surgeries in last few months, but now with no beds left for patients he has no option but to leave back for greener pastures,” he said. Sources in the SKIMS administration told KNS that favoritism, nepotism and corruption had ruined the prestigious institute meant for serving poor patients. “Here private practice mafia is calling the shots. For their petty interests they put lives of patients at risk. It is high time that Chief Minister should form highly empowered committee that can recommend how to bring the ailing SKIMS back on track,” they said. “There is a strong lobby of atleast 20 senior consultants who have ruined the setup of the SKIMS. All of them are engaged in private practice despite getting huge sum as non-practicing allowance. The lobby is so strong that even the CM is helpless before them,” they revealed. However, Director SKIMS Dr Showkat Zargar denied the allegations. “He (Dr Altaf) was allotted three beds and had capacity to take capacity of it only. He is junior most doctor. Whatever decisions we have taken is in the interest of patient care,” he told KNS. Asked why allotment of 10 beds order was revoked just after a week, he said, “I had allotted 10 beds to the department so that patients will benefit from it. But when the court stayed appointment of Dr Nisar there was no fun for keeping the beds empty.” Asked how Dr Nisar who is from General Surgery was appointed in Surgical Oncology against the MCI guidelines, Dr Zarger said, “We are not starting any course where MCI guidelines are applicable. He (Dr Nisar) has been doing cancer surgeries from the last 30 years and is eligible,” he added. (KNS)
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