KL Report
Srinagar
Employees of SK Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura continued their protest on Tuesday with the main demand of ”Director Hatav, SKIMS Bachav”.
The Representative Body of 5000 employees took out a strong protest rally to seek the help of Civil Society, Media and the Government to intervene and save the Medical Institute from collapsing.
The Executive Body of SKIMS Non-Gazetted Employees in their speeches emphasized that “the dream of Sheri-i-Kashmir to prove best health care facilities to the people of J&K through SKIMS” is shattered as the administration of this prestigious hospital is in wrong hands for the last two years.
“Unscruplous, Unworthy and most incompetent people are at the helm of affairs running the roost and sincere and dedicated employees get disheartened with each passing day because of the apathy of higher authorities towards malfunctioning of SKIMS,” read the statement adding that SKIMS employees have given their best to keep this tertiary care hospital functional during most difficult times.
The NGEWA said that Director is holding nine posts himself which has adversely affected the functioning of SKIMS Soura and SKIMS Medical College Bemina.
They lashed out at the Director for failing the Institute by focusing on purchases of costly equipment only and ignoring the patient care, teaching and research.
“The irony is that even cotton and gauze is not available in operation theaters. Patients have to buy essential drugs from the market,” they said and demanded that Director should give up at least few out of nine posts like Principal of JVC and CMM post as there are suitable officers available at both places to take up the responsibility.
They also said that patients are suffering at all levels be it OPD, Emergency (Casualty), Wards, OTs where they are being treated as cattle by putting their lives at danger.
“There have been 4500 deaths during the last 20 months at SKIMS which could have been saved. Even small and basic things are not available to patients,” it added.
Accusing director or marring the career of competent people, the statement said that, “Director is taking keen interest is re-employing the retired people thus marring the chances of young competent people. Every moth he sends the proposal of blue eyed faculty members to the government for extension and re-employment. There is no need of re-employing retired people and grant extension to about to retire sycophant officers who are a liability on SKIMS rather than an asset.”
In their appeal to chief minister Omar Abdullah, they said,” we humbly pray and appeal the honorable chief Minister to turn down such proposals as it is a great burden on exchequer and creates unemployment of qualified people who are about to cross the upper age limit. There are hundreds of non-gazetted employees who have given their blood to SKIMS but are not being regularized by the present Director.”
NGEWA reiterated that they will continue its protest till demands are met.
