Former health minister owns 5; her ex-partner runs 3 institutes
By News Agency of Kashmir
Jammu : Rising from the deep slumber, state Government has at last decided to withheld sanctions for opening Para Medical Training institutions with a view to put a hold on their mushroom growth in the state.
The mushroom growth of these institutions, majority of them allegedly lacking even the basic requirements fixed under the set norms, have evoked strong criticism form Medical fraternity.
The decision to put a blanket ban on sanctions in future is likely to be taken at a high level meeting scheduled to be held on July 23 to be chaired by Secretary Health K B Jandiyal, sources told News Agency of Kashmir.
There are already over thirty institutions functioning in the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar out of which six were given sanction only this year, sources within the department said.
Sources said that after jumping in of some influential persons, there has been continuous race for securing sanctions from even among those who are not even remotely associated with the profession. This has led to a Mushroom Growth where in some cases the institutions not even fulfill the basic requirements.
They said while most of the institutions are functioning in violation of the set norms lacking the required infrastructure, the State Medical Faculty, the designated authority for according sanctions and monitoring their functioning have been watching all this like a silent spectator.
Sources said that over the years some influential persons have managed to secure sanctions for more then two institutions. "Congress MLA and former health minister Suman Lata Bhagat owns five institutions while one of her former partner Mrs Arora owns three, besides a few in other states", a senior official told NAK on the condition of anonymity.
So far as following the norms is concerned, even some reputed institutions like Madre-e – Mehrban Para Medical training institute and PC Memorial have been send notices for meeting the criteria but nothing has been done so far.
Considering the gravity of situation, the government has at last decided stop issuing sanctions in future, sources added.