MCI finds infrastructure deficiencies in Jammu and Kashmir medical colleges

Jammu: The Medical Council of India’s, inspecting team which was in Jammu and Kashmir to take stock of the facilities in medical colleges and their affiliated hospitals have come across discrepancies that call for correctional measures.

A survey of the four associated and tertiary hospitals of Jammu found the hospitals to have failed in installation of purchased machines in various departments. The apex body meeting with the Medical board revealed that the college had not installed biometric machines, to monitor attendance of staff and doctors. This is a gross violation of its guidelines.

Speaking to Tribune, Romesh Kumar Gupta, Medical Superintendent, Government Medical College (GMC), chose to keep away from taking responsibility for the existing discrepancies. He said it was none of his concern and if there was anybody authorized to speak on the matter, it was the Principal, Government Medical College. The Principal, Dr Zahid Gillani however, was unavailable for comment.

Dr. Vishal Tandon, of the MCI, refuted the fact that there were discrepancies in the institutions. He however, conceded to phased projects not having been completed. However, he was confident that this task would be over soon.

“There is no work pending on the installation of any important machinery in any department. This time, the MCI was fully satisfied with the progress shown by the medical board,” said Dr Vishal Tandon.

He, brought up the matter of a few infra structural deficiencies still in existence , which he said were being to be taken up in phases and reached completion, at the earliest.

“The MCI’s focal interest is always on the infrastructure and the faculty of the medical departments such as hostels, libraries and its allied units. The work on these units is in progress and in its third phase. It will be completed soon,” Dr Tandon added.

On the question of bio metric attendance machines not having been installed in the faculties and the gazette officers’ chambers, Dr Tandon said it’s the prerogative of the MCI alone to take on the exercise. The work has been sublet to a Jammu-based company, he revealed.

“It is not for Jammu and Kashmir only, but for whole of India that the MCI has taken up the exercise of installing the bio metric handlers in the department. This falls under the digitization program of the MCI. Since this is Aadhaar-based programming, 90 people of 300 faculty and gazette staff officials have submitted their forms in the past week for the installation and we are hopeful that the rest will also be following the league soon,” Dr Tandon added.