In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Hindutva-inspired Modi regime has stripped the premier tertiary care health institute, Soura Institute of Medical Science, of of its autonomous status, triggering criticism from political parties.
A letter to the director of the hospital by the under secretary of the General Administration department read: “The administration of Soura hospital has been assigned to Health and Medical Education Department”.
“Accordingly, I am directed to intimate you that henceforth all matters/proposals/case files may be submitted for consideration/approval of the Competent Authority (HLG) through Health and Medical Education Department,” it added. Political parties in the Valley decried the move and demanded an immediate rollback of the decision.
National Conference chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said undermining the premier healthcare institution autonomy by bringing it under the administrative control of the health department runs opposite to the government’s minimum government and maximum governance slogan, he added.
The institution has been met with step-motherly treatment under the current set up, Sadiq said. CPI-M leader M Y Tarigami said Soura institution has over the years provided patient care much better than other facilities in the region.
“Stripping what little autonomy this top-tier institution had will have an adverse impact on both its patient care and research,” he said.—KMS
