H&ME dept puts CM’s orders ‘on hold’ for GB PANT Hospital
In an instance of administrative anarchy in J&K, the Health and Medical Education department has “put on hold” the Chief Minister’s orders on converting the gynaecological operation theatre at GB Pant children’s hospital here into a pediatric facility.
The hospital is functioning without an Operation Theatre for pediatric use.
Last week, the Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed visited the hospital and directed the Health and Medical Education department authorities to relocate the Gynaecological ward and convert the facility along with its operation theater into a pediatric surgical wing.
The order (No PS/Secy/H&ME/5098/2015)—copy of which has been accessed by us—states there is a dedicated facility for maternal care and gynecology available in the form of Lal Ded hospital in Srinagar which has been upgraded from 500 to 700 bed capacity.
In the order, the Secretary H&ME, MK Bhandari, had directed the District Commissioner, Srinagar to get the issue relating to utilization of part of GB Pant hospital for obstetrics and gynaecology immediately resolved so as to make the facility “an exclusive pediatric care center till a full-fledged pediatric hospital comes up in Srinagar.”
“You (DC) are accordingly requested to take necessary steps in this regard,” the order reads.
The order also directed Principal Government Medical College Srinagar “to start using this (gynae) facility only for pediatric care and ensure that any patient reporting for gynaecological support at GB Pant is referred to LD hospital.”
“A very early action in this regard shall enable us to inform the office of the Chief Minister about the compliance of the directions,” reads the order issued on July 1.
The GMC Principal was further directed to depute adequate number of pediatricians, pediatric surgeons and qualified nursing staff for providing tertiary pediatric health care facility.
However six days after the order was issued, there is no progress on the ground as far as its implementation is concerned.
Few days after the Chief Minister’s directions, the Health Minister Lal Singh visited the hospital and literally overruled them. He issued verbal orders for continuation of the gynaecological facility there.
A senior official said the GMC has sought opinion from administrative department (H&ME) regarding the implementation of the order that was issued on directions of the Chief Minister.
“The authorities are waiting for further directions in the regard,” he said. “We haven’t started implementation of the directions after the controversy over the issue.”
Secretary H&ME department MK Bhandari told that the Department would take an “objective call” on the issue “which suits the requirements for the pediatric care.”
‘NO CHANGE’
The Gynaecology facility at the hospital functioned normally on Wednesday, with patients undergoing treatment there, insiders said.
A doctor said of four patients admitted in the post-operative ward, two were admitted on Monday, one on Tuesday and one on Wednesday morning.
“Two caesarean sections were carried on Wednesday and one is scheduled for Thursday,” he said.
“There has been no change despite strict recommendations from the Chief Minister,” he said.
