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GMC Jammu fails to utilize funds for setting up Swine Flu testing laboratory

Last Updated on May 4, 2021 at 9:59 am

Government Medical College Jammu has failed in setting up Swine flu testing laboratory due to mismanagement which was to be established five years ago. The laboratory is still waiting to get established and funds which were sanctioned for it have lapsed.

Documents reveal that after swine flu infections took place in Jammu during 2014-15, Principal of Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu demanded funds for creating a separate isolation ward and a swine flu H1N1 laboratory for molecular diagnosis of swine flu and other epidemics. Its estimated cost was Rs 6.28 crore for creation of a separate isolation ward, Rs 2.98 crore for establishing Swine flu H1N1 laboratory and Rs 3.30 crore for Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education department.

Government approved this proposal in March 2015 and sanctioned Rs 6.30 crore under State plan. There was a condition to adhere to all codal formalities and set up a laboratory as soon as possible. GMC Jammu sent Rs one crore to Executive Engineer (EE) of Public Works Department, Roads and Buildings of Tawi Bridge cum Medical College Division in Jammu for construction of isolation ward.

Rs 5.30 crore were kept in the deposit head, out of which Rs two crore were again advanced in January 2016 to the Executive Engineer for creation of isolation ward. Remaining amount of Rs 3.30 crore was consistently kept in the deposit head for the last three years.

Rs 2.85 crore were spent for isolation ward, Rs 2.61 crore for DG Set, Rs 0.21 crore for Cabling system, Rs 3 lakhs for creation of isolation ward which was used for the treatment of suspected/ confirmed H1N1 influenza cases.

It has been found that government institution’s decision to withdraw funds from the treasury in order to avoid their lapsing as financial year closes and failure to use these funds led to parking of Rs 3.45 crore. This amount also includes an unspent amount of Rs 0.15 crore which is kept with Executive Engineer in the deposit head. Swine Flu became cause of death of three patients during 2017-18 in GMC Jammu.