When the gardener sleeps, weeds take over the orchard."as goes the saying comes true when the tenure of past incumbent of primier chair and the predecessor of present disposition at Sher-i-Kahmir institute of Medical sciences Soura is put to touchstone.
Sliding the latch from inside of his cozy office chamber and remaining in seclusion like a hermit and letting a major portion of the allocated funds slip away from his fingers ,is what was debated in the J&K legislative assembly threadbare in the recently held session.
Sher-I- Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura , a dream project has been hitting the newspaper headlines for its despodant performance and declining healthcare management for the financial year 2022-23 and 2023-24.
In North India just after AIIMS ,In the intricate tapestry of India’s healthcare infrastructure, this distinguished institution stand as beacons of medical excellence.
There is no denying to the fact that Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Soura serves a vast population, providing tertiary care, parallel to what PGI Chandigarh and for that matter, AIIMS Delhi ,are famous for, yet its trajectories of financial stewardship and budgetary utilization present a study in contrast—one of discipline and prudence on one side and a history of mismanagement and neglect on the other.
SKIMS, nestled in the heart of Jammu and Kashmir, is a premier medical institution and a colossus of medical academia and treatment, extending its services to a vast expanse of populace of the region and even beyond its borders. With a staggering daily footfall of nearly 10-20 thousand individuals, SKIMS shoulders a burden only a few institutions can rival, standing as a monument to efficiency and foresight.
but unfortunately the fiscal history of SKIMS over the past three years is a tale of squandered opportunities and egregious mismanagement. Under the stewardship of the previous incumbent at the helm, a staggering ?90 crore of allocated funds remained unutilized, siphoned into administrative voids, or mired in bureaucratic inertia.
In 2021-22, ?34.16 crore lay untouched, a third of the total budget left to wither in oblivion. The following year, 2022-23 saw a lapse of ?21.72 crore, a further indictment of the indolence that had gripped the institution. Then, in 1023-24, the cycle repeated itself, with another ?34.22 crore lost to the abyss of inaction. The ramifications were too dire to be calculated ,dilapidated infrastructure, stalled procurement, and a public robbed of its rightful access to quality healthcare.
A veil of opacity enshrouded these years, with suspicions of collusion between entrenched officials and dubious contractors. The ghosts of misappropriation whispered through the corridors of power, as essential medical equipment awaited purchase while funds sat idle. Even procuring tablet Paracetamol and one more poor man's medicine that is provided to seizure disorder patients free of cost on OPD- Tab phenytoin Sodium 100mg, eluded hospital suppliers for almost two years.
Lives too were lost to this negligence, not to the scarcity of resources, but to their mismanagement. It is a harrowing irony that an institution built by its dreamers in total penuary to save lives, became ensnared in the very maladies of corruption and inefficiency that plague governance at its worst.
And yet, amid this bleak landscape, a new dawn rises. The financial year 2024-25 has ushered in a renaissance of accountability, a restoration of fiscal discipline, and a renewed commitment to the people. The current dispensation, unlike its predecessors, has embraced the mantle of responsibility, ensuring full utilization of the ?Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel79 crore allocated to SKIMS, on infrastructure and development projects. Additionally, SKIMS procured a state-of-the-art linear accelerator worth Rs 29 crore under the SCI grant, enhancing its cancer treatment capabilities. significant ?29 crore have been utilised for a state-of-the-art linear accelerator, heralding a transformative leap in oncology treatment . This marks not just an achievement, but a redemption, a defiant rejection of past inefficiencies and a pledge to honor the sacred duty of healing and proving the fact that strong will power and determination make mountains move.
On the other hand ,In stark contrast, PGIMER Chandigarh has long exemplified financial sagacity, its budgetary discipline unwavering amid the tides of change. In 2021-22 its budget stood at ?2,200 crore, reflecting a 3.6% increase from ?2,123 crore in 2022-23, A substantial ?343.10 crore was dedicated to capital assets, an investment that dwarfs SKIMS’ entire allocation. The trajectory continued in 2014-25, with another ?350 crore devoted to infrastructure and medical advancements, ensuring that PGIMER’s commitment to expansion remains unshaken.
The comparison is glaring ,one institution nurtured by consistent support by the government in place and prudent administration at the helm of affairs , the other suffocated by years of negligence . And yet, with its newfound fiscal responsibility, SKIMS has proven its ability to rise from the wreckage. The past failures must not be an argument against future investment, but a clarion call for greater funding, more oversight, and a resolute commitment to ensuring that history does not repeat itself.
With SKIMS finally attaining full budget utilization in 2024-25, it is imperative that this progress be bolstered, not stifled. The scars of past mismanagement remain, but they must not define the future. A larger, more strategically deployed budget is not just a necessity, it is an ethical imperative. The state and central authorities must recognize that healthcare is not mere an expense but it is an investment in the very soul of society. To deny SKIMS the funding, it now deserves ,would be to punish the present for the sins of the past.
The full budget utilization in the last two quarters by present SKIMS administration heralds a new era, but one successful year does not erase a history of inefficiencies. This institution has now fortify its procurement mechanisms, ensure accountability, and maintain transparency to ensure sustained financial integrity. It has to continue its steady ascent, setting an example of meticulous planning and judicious spending in the years to come under the versatile leadership of its present disposition and make a mark in evolving with the ever-growing healthcare demands of North India in general and J&K state in particular .
As SKIMS is rising like proverbial phoenix from its ashes ,its trajectory serve as a testament to the intricate interplay of financial stewardship, healthcare administration, and institutional vision. Its successes and failures will undoubtedly shape the future of tertiary medical care in India, setting a precedent for how public healthcare institutions must evolve to meet the demands of an ever-growing populace. But the responsibility has to be shared by the government in place equally and funds be allocated ,if not like PGI chandigarh but to the level where all the barricades and bottle necks hampering its development are removed and it is allowed to grow and establish its recognition nationwide .
The time for skepticism is over. The time for action is now.