Srinagar, July 21(KNS): Prominent Gujjar leader and former Health and Medical education minister, Mian Altaf Ahmed on Friday said that curtailing autonomy of SKIMS Soura will adversely impact its functioning and patient care.

Reacting to the government's decision to curtail the autonomy of SKIMS, Mian Altaf said that SKIMS has over the years provided patient care much better than other facilities in the region and carers to entire valley including Pir Panjal region of Jammu and Kashmir.

"Stripping what little autonomy this top-tier institution had will have an adverse impact on both its patient care and research," Mian Altaf in a statement issued said.

He emphasized that the overall progress of SKIMS from last 36 years shows that the model with autonomy to the governing body functions very well and leads to the success stories.

"By giving autonomy to institute which is governed and managed by its doctors, the best decisions come out from such health institution. “This governing body and autonomous model also help in inter-departmental coordination in any health institution,” statement said.

Over the decades, the Institute emerged as one of the most prestigious medical centers in India, and catered to specialty and super specialty needs of the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the dearth of staff to cater to expanding bed-capacity has been one of concerns.

SKIMS Soura was established as an autonomous medical institute under the J&K State Legislature Act in 1983, on the same lines as AIIMS New Delhi. It was programmed to function independently and has its own governing body responsible for overseeing its administrative and academic affairs.

Mian Altaf said the move will also affect its decision-making process and inter-departmental coordination.

Mian Altaf urged the government to reconsider the decision so that the autonomy of the institute is restored in the larger interest of the people.(KNS).