SKIMS under J&K Health Department’s control; Political parties slam govt's move

The Central government's decision to end the autonomous status of SKIMS is being criticised by various political parties in J&K. It will create impediments in the smooth functioning of the hospital and put patients through inconvenience, argues the opposing political parties. JKNC denounced the action, read here for more details.

After the Centre has removed the autonomy status of J&K’s premier healthcare research institution, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), and handed over its administrative control to J&K health department, various political parties in the J&K region are opposing the move.

The decision has come from the Ministry of Home Affairs vide Notification G.S.R 534(E) of August 27, 2020, saying the “administration of SKIMS has been assigned to Health and Medical Education Department.”

On February 24, the General Administration Department’s (GAD) Monitoring Section had written to the SKIMS Director, Dr Parvez Koul, that all the matters of the institution must be submitted for the necessary action of the Competent Authority through Health and Medical Education (HME) Department.

“Snatching autonomy may seem like a power play, but in reality it weakens the foundation of the institution itself. It’s essential for hospitals to maintain their independence and decisions,” said NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq, as reported by Tribune India.

He said that the decision was undermining the institutional working of the institution, which had gone beyond delivering the state of art health care; it has produced skilled manpower, including doctors, paramedics and technicians. Tanvir Sadiq termed it “unwarranted” and “unacceptable”, as reported by Newsclick.

“SKIMS is only next to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in healthcare standards, and the administration is interfering with these institutions like it earlier did with the Wakf. I do not understand why the authorities are weakening these strong institutions,” he said. 

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