Work cost revised to Rs 164.90 cr for completion of GMC Doda: Sakeena Itoo

JAMMU: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, today said that the cost of civil works at Government Medical College Doda has been revised from Rs. 139.00 crore to Rs. 164.90 crore for completion of the balance works.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Sajjad Shaheen in the Legislative Assembly.
Sharing details, the Minister informed that out of total Rs 189 crore approved and released under both Centre and UT share, an amount of Rs. 183.95 crore has been utilised on civil and machinery equipment components till March- 2024. She informed that during the current financial year, an amount of Rs. 9.50 crore has been earmarked under Capex Budget 2024-25, against which Rs. 7.60 crore have been released and Rs. 1.65 crore have been incurred.
She said that in order to improve the doctor-patient ratio and to give a fillip to the available medical services at secondary and tertiary level of treatment, the Ministry for Health & Family Welfare, Government of India, under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme “Establishment of new Medical Colleges attached with existing referral/District Hospitals” sanctioned establishment of 05 new Medical Colleges at Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Kathua and Rajouri.
The Minister said that GMC Doda has infrastructure and staff in place, to function smoothly. However, as in the case of any new Medical College, there is room for further improvement.
With regard to staff, the Minister said that all vacant faculty posts stand referred to the JKPSC for advertisement and selection of suitable candidates Besides, faculty is being engaged on academic arrangement to meet the shortfall, if any. The Minister said Consultants/ Senior Consultants of Health Gazetted Services are also being deputed to GMC Doda on standard terms and conditions of deputation for utilization of their services in various Departments. Further, recruitment to vacant Non-Gazetted posts in respect of GMC Doda is under consideration.
Regarding the total sanctioned strength of both teaching and non-teaching staff, she informed that out of 267 gazetted category posts; 144 are in position and 123 are vacant, in non-gazetted category; of 432 sanctioned strength 306 are in position and 126 are vacant and in MTS category; of 117 sanctioned strength 70 are in position and 47 posts are vacant.
The Minister said that two CT Scan Machines, One functional Fibroscan machine (Echosens 630) are functional in AH, GMC DODA.
She further informed that the GMC Doda intends to start PG / MD/MS courses in broad specialties from Academic year 2027-28. Moreover, DNB courses are being offered in the disciplines of Medicine, Surgery, Obst and Gynae, Paediatrics and Orthopaedics in GMC Doda.
Shakti Raj Parihar and Mehraj Malik raised supplementaries.