Dear Editor,
Total population of J and K is 1,01,43,700, Kashmir -54,76,970, Jammu 44,30,191, Ladakh 2,36,539.
Medical Colleges in Jammu (a) GMC Jammu with Super Speciality Extension. (b) ASCOMS (c) Sanctioned GMC Kathua, Doda, Rajouri total= five.
Kashmir (a) GMC Srinagar, (b) JehlumValley Medical College, (c) SKIMS. (AIIMS level) (d) Sanctioned Medical College Anantnag and Barmulla Total=five.
Initial cost of each AIIMS Rs 1,300 to 1,600 crores. i.e about 1.5 crores. Per bed maintenance Rs 5000 to 10,000.
Do we really need so many doctors and so many institutions in addition to existing ones with just over one crore population of J and K and that too at a cost of presently available resource with J and K?
From where they will get teaching faculty when all AIIMS and other government/private medical institutions are already short of appropriate staff? Shall we produce half skilled doctors?
Have we employment capacity for all such produced?
Do we produce them to export at the cost of service to our own people?
Number of patients indoor and OPD is about 1,76,000 at any given time in J and K i.e. 10 to 15 per cent.
Does Ladakh with only two and half lakh population needs AIIMS as suggested by on MLA? They need only dedicated working doctors and well equipped districts and sub district hospitals for onward march of healthy life.
Similarly is the need of all existing institutions in other parts of the State and a rational oppointment and transfer policy which never was there in last 50 years. Let us up grade existing district hospitals and run refresher courses for whole staff regularly.
However, if AIIMS has to be given then Jammu needs it more than the Valley where SKIMS already exists.
In comparison, initial cost of IIT is about Rs 500 crore and recurring cost Rs 125 to 150 crore. Initial cost of IIM is Rs 250 to 350 crore recurring cost Rs 80 to 100 crore.
Dr. K. C Sharma
Udhampur