By Jasim Mohammad,
The Jawahar Lal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University which is one of country’s prestigious institutions of its kind, is passing through a very critical stage primarily because of paucity of funds.
A former senior functionary of the medical college, who preferred to remain anonymous, told this writer, “Badly needed funds for life saving equipment and drugs are being denied to this hospital which caters to the medical needs of half a dozen districts in western U.P”.
This official who retired from a top post of this institution recently, said, “the reluctance of the top varsity officer to approach the Union Health Minister because of personal differences is adding to the misery of nearly four lac patients who visit the hospital annually”. These “differences” between the university administration and the Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi are badly affecting the hospital. All other hospitals in a similar category are also supported by their respective state government for such grants. But this is not the case with this college.
In his visit to the Jawaharlal medical college more than six months ago, Mr. Ghulam Nabi announced an increase in annual budgetary provision for the hospital. The minister had during this visit publicly criticized the administration for what he described as the “appalling conditions” prevailing in the medical college hospital at the time of his surprise check. Since then the medical college authorities have introduced several steps for improving the functioning of the hospital but, health services continue to be in a “pathetic condition,” AMU officials privately concede.
Another common complaint in the public is that patients for whom primarily the medical college hospital is supposed to cater are being refused admission and are being directed to private nursing homes This has been a common practice since a long time but in recent years this practice has spread unchecked. The university authorities are turning a blind eye to this illegal activity.
(The writer is Editor, The Aligarh Movement Magazine. Email: [email protected], call: 0-9997063595)
Photo: mangalorean.com