Sukesh.C. Khajuria seeks indulgence of LG J&K in implementing govt. orders in health sector  

Sukesh.C. Khajuria seeks indulgence of LG J&K in implementing govt. orders in health sector

Jammu, July 29

Sukesh. C. Khajuria, a senior social activist pursuing public issues especially relating to health and medical services, for the past more than four decades in J&K has sought the intervention of LG Manoj Sinha in implementing various government orders related to health services which remain unimplemented due to bureaucratic complicity with vested interests.

He brought to the notice of LG Manoj Sinha certain facts which pertains to the health sector and are directly affecting the general masses of J&K. “There are certain decision and issues which were taken by the government for the welfare of the masses pertaining to their health and wellbeing but were not implemented on the ground due to unknown reasons, “ he said..

Seeking indulgence of the LG Manoj Sinha for the overall welfare of the people, Sukesh.C.Khajuria  requested him to look into these important issues and got these implemented. He further said that the foremost issues is the non-implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between Government Medical College, Jammu and Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), Mumbai for starting oncology services at State Cancer institute (SCI) at Jammu on February 23, 2022 aimed at  providing  better cancer care and up gradation of oncology services from the single department of Radiotherapy at GMC Jammu to Multidisciplinary oncology services for the Jammu region at State Cancer Institute and for streamlining the Oncology services following the practice guidelines carried out at TMC Mumbai and other Satellite Tata cancer hospitals across India.

Khajuria lamented that unfortunately there was no clear implementation of MOU guidelines so that different oncology specialties practice in their own area of specialization and not to venture into the areas of other specialties as it’s strictly done at all Tata cancer hospitals, AIIMS, New Delhi.  State Cancer Institute, Jaipur and other reputed corporate hospitals across India.

He wrote that the Principal GMC, Jammu, who has been blatantly practicing as Medical Oncologist, despite being a Radiotherapist, doing chemotherapy in Radiotherapy department, using MO (Medical Oncology) Packages prescribed in Ayushman Bharat Scheme (PMJAY) to be used by Medical Oncology, as someone who is not a radiation Oncologist cannot use RO (Radiation oncology) and SO (Surgical Oncology Package).

Raising another important issue of private practice by senior by the senior doctors and teachers working in the state medical college and government hospitals,  Sukesh.C. Khajuria wrote that he had been waging a lone battle against this practice of fleecing poor common masses by these doctors who get fat salaries from state exchequer and are minting money from their own private practices.

He said that the Government order no. 43- HME of 2013 dated January 17, 2013 by the government stated that “in the interest of administration and patient – care, it is hereby ordered that the Heads of the Departments in Govt. Medical colleges and Associated Hospitals and Govt. Dental colleges of the state shall not indulge in private practice henceforth”. But it is surprising that in spite of the Govt. order all the HODs are still practicing while senior authorities are turning Nelson’s Eye to these brazen violations of Govt. instructions.

There was a government order dated January 17, 2013 which prohibits the head of the departments in Government medical college, associated hospital and Government dental Colleges of the state from private practice. But nobody cared about that order and it was never implemented by the state health authorities.

Sukesh.C. Khajuria said that the Chawla committee formed to submit recommendations for the betterment of the services in the government medical college, besides numerous other recommendations had also strongly opined against private practice by senior doctors in these institutions. But, the Chawla committee recommendations were also conveniently ignored by the health bureaucracy.

Sukesh.C. Khajuria requested  the LG  to issue an order through Administrative Secretary HME to strictly implement all MOU guidelines signed with Tata memorial cancer Hospital, Mumbai in true spirit especially, Integrate State Cancer Institute into National Cancer Grid Tata Memorial Centre and establish standard management guidelines similar to evidence- based medicine guidelines of TMC For Organ-Based treatment in Different Disease Management Groups.

He also demanded that the Govt.order no. 43/HME of 2013 dated January 17, 2013 by virtue where of private practice of Heads of the Departments (HODs) in GMC, Associated Hospitals and dental colleges of the state has been banned, Govt.Order No.612-JKHME of 2022 dated 12-08-2022 regarding doctors to restrain themselves from private practice during official hours / duty hours in health institution and other malpractices, notification dated 23rd April ,1998 and the recommendations of the Chawla committee should be adhered too and implemented in letter and spirit so that the revered motto of your government of “Sabka Saath and Sabka Vikas”,  “Health for All” with effective services could truely benefit common people.