The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — Authorities in Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura said that Radioisotopes will remain temporarily suspended in the first week of April.

As per the news agency KNO, Medical Superintendent, SKIMS Soura, Dr Farooq Jan has requested the public to cooperate as radioisotope-based scans cannot be undertaken during this period.

"The general public is informed that there will be no supply of iodine-131 (radioisotopes) for the 1st week of April 2024 as has been communicated by BRIT Mumbai due to issues with their generators and hence erratic availability of Iodine-131 in the country," said Medical Superintendent of SKIMS Soura in a public notice.

It added, "As such Iodine-131-based scans done at Nuclear Medicine cannot be undertaken. We request people to cooperate and the inconvenience is regretted."

Radioisotopes are an essential part of radiopharmaceuticals and these have been used routinely in medicine for more than 30 years.

Officials said that radioisotopes are used in a variety of ways to improve productivity and gain information that cannot be obtained in any other way. They said that those who heavily depend on Nuclear Medicine for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes will suffer due to the unavailability of radioisotopes at the Valley's premier hospital.

They said that there is a need for robust planning and approach required so that such backup facilities may be put in place so that patients won't suffer at all.

SRINAGAR — SKIMS Soura on Wednesday urged people, intending to visit the health facility for treatment, to make use of the online appointment system.

As per the news agency CNS, SKIMS Soura in a statement stated, "It is to inform masses in need to visit SKIMS for treatment in any speciality except for General Medicine and General Surgery are requested to make optimal use of Online Appointment System."

It was further said that the patients need to first register at the SKIMS MRD counter and then they can book an appointment online.

"Online Appointment link is available at SKIMS official website www.skims.ac.in. Online Appointment System is a convenient mode for patients to save their time and also prevent overcrowding in OPD areas. Any patient facing any difficulty can contact the OPD Incharge at Room No. 133," the SKIMS Soura said in the statement.

"We request all to cooperate and help us to serve you better," it added.

SRINAGAR — The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Tuesday assigned the charge of Director SKIMS Soura to Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah in addition to his own duties.

According to an order, the appointment has been made in view of the retirement of Dr Parvez Koul on March 3.

"Consequent upon the retirement on superannuation of Prof. (Dr.) Parvez Koul, Director, SKIMS and ex-officio Secretary to the Government, on 08.03.2024 (A.N.) and pending appointment of a suitable candidate against the said post, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed, IAS, Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department is hereby assigned the charge of the post of Director, SKIMS, in addition to his own duties till further orders," reads the order.

SRINAGAR — Despite the increasing number of cancer cases in Kashmir Valley, there is a severe shortage of PET-CT scan machines for staging and assessing treatment responses. With only one such machine available at SKIMS Soura, patients at GMC Srinagar face several challenges in accessing timely and accurate cancer diagnostics.

GMC Srinagar, where around 7,000 new cancer cases were registered, is functioning without a PET Scan machine that is used for the detection of cancer and the evaluation of cancer treatment.

Oncologists informed the news agency KNO that in the modern-day practice of oncology, PET-CT has emerged as a game-changer in the management of cancer but the valley has just a single such machine.

Dr Shabnam, an oncologist, said there is just one PET Scan machine available at SKIMS Soura and there is a need for more such machines in the valley.

Another oncologist, Dr Aijaz, said PET Scan constitutes a major advancement in the initial diagnosis, evaluation, treatment, prognosis, surveillance, and relapse throughout the disease.

PET-CT is an acronym for Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography, which is nuclear medicine equipment that houses a PET scanner and a CT scanner, to acquire multiple sequential views to create 3D images of the body. This modality provides a hybrid image formed by the fusion of the functional image of PET and the anatomical image of CT.

Doctors said there is an immediate need for such a facility at GMC Srinagar as cancer cases in Kashmir are on the rise and such patients have no options other than to visit SKIMS Soura.

They said patients have to wait for a long time to get their turn, which isn't easy for such patients while some are visiting outside Kashmir for diagnosis and treatment.

The medical experts said the majority of the patients cannot afford to visit private clinics or outside the valley, thereby delaying their diagnosis and treatment, which is very essential for the treatment of cancer.

“PET-CT is helping doctors to work out the best treatment and helps to detect primary sites, thereby influencing the choice of chemotherapy," they said, adding, "It would be in the interest of the community as well as for better healthcare facilities if the PET Scan facility will be made available at SMHS Hospital.”

As per the details available, around 45,000 new cancer cases have been registered at SKIMS Soura since 2013, while around 7,000 cancer cases have been registered at GMC Srinagar since 2017.

According to the Union Health Ministry data, 51,577 cases of cancer were reported in J&K in the last four years (2019-2022) with 12,396 in 2019, 12,726 cases in 2020, 13,060 cases in 2021, and 13,395 cases in 2022.

A total of 35,623 people in J&K died with cancer between the years 2018 and 2022 that is 6824 cancer patients were reported to have died in 2018; in 2019, 7003 deaths were reported; in 2020, 7189 deaths were reported; in 2021, 7211 deaths were reported; and in 2022, 7396 cancer patient fatalities were reported.

A 2012 study by the Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) attributed the rising cancer incidence to “dietary practices and lifestyle choices” as well as the intake of foods with high salt content.

SRINAGAR — In its continuous efforts to enhance advances in patient care, the Department of Urology & Kidney Transplant SKIMS achieved a major milestone by performing a swap kidney transplant today. This is the first swap kidney transplant done in UT of J&K.

Director SKIMS, EOSG complimented Prof. Saleem Wani, HOD Urology & KTU and associate departments for this significant achievement. He said patient care is a top priority at SKIMS and the swap transplant done by the Department of Urology & KTU is a major breakthrough in kidney transplant and our commitment towards new advances in patient care.

HOD, Urology & KTU Prof. Saleem Wani while giving details said, “This is landmark surgery done by the SKIMS and is a major milestone set in the kidney transplantation.”

He said one patient aged 59 years from south Kashmir suffering from diabetes and ESRD on dialysis since November 2022 had a wife as his only kidney donor. However, they had a positive CDC cross-match due to which kidney transplant was not possible.

Another patient from Bandipora aged 33 years with CKD stage 5 had a mother as his only kidney donor whose blood group did not match which precluded a kidney transplant. On swap (donor exchange), both patients received blood group-matched and immunologically compatible kidney donation.

Prof. Wani stressed that “swap transplant is one of the ways to counter organ shortage as organ shortage is a main hurdle in kidney transplant.” He said that with the successful conduct of the first swap kidney transplant, SKIMS has set the ball rolling for enhancing the donor pool.

He said it requires a lot of logistics and expertise as two transplants are performed in a single day, which is burdensome but SKIMS with all its capabilities performed the surgery successfully and created a ray of hope for the helpless patients.

He said SKIMS is a major contributor to the organ transplant program of the country, filling a major gap as one lac eighty thousand kidney failure patients need kidney transplants in India in a year and only 6000 kidney transplants are done.

He said SKIMS has so far done more than 550 kidney transplants successfully. Organ shortage being a limiting factor, he underscored the importance of cadaver transplant, swap transplant and ABO incompatible transplant which he said is a way forward to give a new lease of life to patients suffering from kidney failure.

He said the Department of Urology & KTU is taking serious measures to work out the cadaver transplant and in this direction, various awareness programs are being conducted in coordination with SOTTO (State Organ & Tissue Transplant Organization).

He also said that the Departments of Urology & KTU, Nephrology, and Immunology are working in close coordination to set another milestone by starting ABO incompatible kidney transplant in the near future.

Prof. Wani lauded the Department of Nephrology, Department of Anaesthesia, and Department of Immunology for their constant support and close coordination. He thanked and complimented the entire team of KTU, Urology OT and all members including Prof. Arif Hamid, Dr Rouf Khawaja, Dr Sajad Malik, Dr Sajad Para, Dr Saqib (Urology), Prof. Ashraf Bhat, Prof. Imtiyaz Wani, Prof. Muzaffar Wani, Dr Manzoor, Dr Rais (Nephrology), Prof. Showkat Gurcoo, Dr Khalid (Anesthesiology) and Prof. Zaffar Amin Shah (Immunology). He also appreciated the role of Kidney Transplant Coordinators—Ms. Yasmin and Ms. Ishrat—for their efforts in counselling the families.

SRINAGAR — Kashmir’s premier hospital Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has warned people about the fraudsters who raise money in the name of patients.

The management of SKIMS said that it has been brought to its notice that a few fraudsters allegedly raise money for patients by resorting to displaying patient reports of CT scans/PET scans and the like issued by various departments of SKIMS.

“These reports do not in any way convey any endorsement of a fundraiser by SKIMS. Any certificate that is issued by SKIMS certifying the requirements of finances by a patient for his investigations or treatment is always signed by the head of the respective department and countersigned by the Director, SKIMS,” a statement in this connection stated.

SKIMS requested the general public to note that SKIMS is not responsible for any fundraisers, genuine or not. "We only issue certificates certifying the need for total finances or recurring treatment of a patient. The certificates are always signed by the Director without exception."

SRINAGAR — Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Rajiv Rai Bhatnagar on Wednesday addressed the three-day 19th Management Development Program (MDP) at Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) here.

As per a statement issued here, the MDP was organized by the Department of Hospital Administration SKIMS in association with the Academy of Hospital Administration India for medical officers, hospital administrators, paramedical staff and other healthcare professionals.

Addressing a gathering of scholars, medical researchers, doctors and other medical practitioners, Advisor Bhatnagar said that an important aspect of service delivery in medical care is being addressed through the conduct of this MDP.

He added that management, visionary leadership, teamwork and innovation in optimizing the healthcare system to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities are the most critical aspects for the success of any organization. "This MDP will prove fruitful for enhancing the hospital administration not only in this prestigious institution but for the whole of J&K," he added.

Speaking on different aspects of this program, Advisor Bhatnagar highlighted that this MDP is aimed to equip healthcare professionals with the essential skills required to navigate the complex landscape of healthcare management effectively.

He gave some valuable insights on enhancing patient experience, improving operational efficiency, implementing best practices, managing change, having a problem-solving approach, leadership and team involvement besides motivation for successful healthcare management.

While complimenting SKIMS for being the front-runner in providing patient care services in any situation, Advisor Bhatnagar said that the UT government is committed to providing excellent medicare to the people of Jammu and Kashmir.

He added that with the concerted efforts of Union and UT governments, there has been a sea change in the healthcare system across J&K with world-class medical infrastructure being established in the entire UT.

Speaking on the occasion, Director SKIMS, Professor Parvaiz A Koul appreciated the Department of Hospital Administration for organizing the three-day event where diverse topics in hospital administration are being deliberated by the experts. He expressed hope that these deliberations will benefit all the participants as well as students.

National President of Academy of Hospital Administration, Dr. Yashpal Sharma and Dean of Medical Faculty SKIMS, Professor Bashir A Laway also spoke on the occasion and complimented the Department of Hospital Administration SKIMS for hosting this event. He underlined the significance of such programs in the delivery of patient care management.

HoD, Hospital Administration, SKIMS, Professor G H Yatoo, while speaking on the occasion, gave a detailed description of the program, saying that the experts will deliberate on various topics of importance to hospital administration and management administration for support.

SRINAGAR — J&K's first genome sequencing lab has been made functional at SKIMS Soura. Dr. Bashir Ahmad Fomda, Head of Department Microbiology at SKIMS Soura told the news agency KNO that the genome sequencing lab has been made functional at SKIMS Soura and has started receiving batches of samples.

"The lab will, as of now, take care of the requirement of genome sequencing for the whole UT as samples from Jammu will also be tested here,” he said.

He said that it will take around a week in receiving, testing, and analysis of the samples.

A Health official said that they no longer need to wait for months to get results from genome sequencing lab outside J&K. "Now, the lab has been made functional in SKIMS Soura and we can get confirmation of circulating variant in about a week," he said.

He said that making the lab functional will help the authorities to improve the capacity of surveillance efforts in J&K.

The official said that when they will get information about the circulating variants in time, the authorities can take steps accordingly. He said that getting the results of samples sent for genome sequencing late was hampering their efforts to track the spread of new variants.

“As of now, samples will be sent for genome sequencing to SKIMS. If their reports would come around a week, it would be easy to find contacts of the person in whose sample new variant was detected,” he said.

“But we are getting reports of the Omicron after two or three weeks when patients had already recovered from the disease, it then was difficult to find contacts of the person found positive for new variant especially when the variant is highly transmissible,” the official said.

J&K had no whole genome sequencing labs due to which tests were being sent to NCDC Delhi from where reports were coming very late.

Following the second wave of COVID-19 in J&K, the government had planned to set up two genome sequencing labs, one each in Srinagar and Jammu, but as of now, labs haven't been functional anywhere yet.

The samples were sent to the Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Delhi for genome sequencing.

SRINAGAR — Family members of a pregnant lady, who died at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) on Sunday, alleged medical negligence by hospital authorities.

The family members of the deceased woman, identified as Ulfat Jan, resident of Wakura Ganderbal, according to the news agency KDC, held a protest at SKIMS Soura against the hospital authorities, alleging that “she was not given proper treatment which consequently led to her death” this morning.

The relatives of the deceased lady have demanded stern action against the doctors, who they said, were supposed to be present.

The Medical Superintendent of SKIMS, Dr. Farooq Jan said, "An inquiry has been initiated in this regard and the committee has been asked to submit the report within five days."

"Whosoever will be found involved in any kind of negligence will be dealt with strictly as per law,” Jan added.

Dr. Abdul Gani Ahanger, better known as Dr. A G Ahanger, is a highly respected medical professional and former Director of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, one of the leading healthcare institutes in India. With a career spanning over three decades, Dr. Ahanger has made a significant contribution to the medical field and has earned a reputation for his unwavering dedication and commitment to providing quality healthcare to those in need.

Born and raised in the Kashmir valley, Dr. Ahanger completed his medical education at the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences in Srinagar. After graduation, he worked as a resident doctor at SKIMS for several years before pursuing higher education. He completed a fellowship in Cardiology to take up the position of Assistant Professor at SKIMS.

Over the years, Dr. Ahanger rose through the ranks at SKIMS and was eventually appointed as the Director of the institute. During his tenure, he was instrumental in implementing several important initiatives that helped to improve the quality of healthcare delivery and make SKIMS a more patient-friendly environment. Under his leadership, the institute also expanded its services and introduced new departments and specialties.

Dr. Abdul Gani Ahanger's expertise in Cardiology

Dr. Ahanger's expertise in Cardiology has made him a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences, and he has published several research papers in reputed medical journals. He is also an active member of several professional organizations and has served on various committees and boards.

Aside from his professional accomplishments, Dr. Ahanger is also known for his compassion and dedication to serving the community. He has been involved in several charitable initiatives and has used his expertise to provide medical services to those in need, both in India and abroad.

Dr. Ahanger's contributions to the medical field and his commitment to serving others have earned him numerous accolades and recognition over the years. He is an inspiration to many and a true example of what it means to be a dedicated and compassionate medical professional.

In conclusion, Dr. Abdul Gani Ahanger's legacy will continue to inspire future generations of healthcare professionals and serve as a testament to his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of others through his work in medicine.

SRINAGAR — The autonomy of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) has ended as the Director of the Institute has been directed to submit all matters before Health and Medical Education (H&ME) for approval.

The official communiqué of Health and Medical Education reads that the administration of SKIMS has been assigned to the 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 the Health and Medical Education Department," it reads.

"The case files/references/proposals received from the SKIMS and presently lying in General Administration Department are accordingly returned herewith in the 1st phase for further action as per the existing TBRs," it adds further.

Notably, SKIMS is the only medical university of the Union Territory of J&K, headed by a Director, who is also the Ex-officio Secretary to the Government.

Lieutenant Governor J&K is the Chairperson of the SKIMS governing body that performs the role of the cabinet for the semi-autonomous super-specialty hospital and the deemed university.

In addition to the deemed university and the main hospital, the institute comprises the State Cancer Institute, Maternity Hospital, Nursing College, Paramedical College, and an affiliated Medical College & Hospital which is on the city outskirts at Bemina.

SRINAGAR — Chief Secretary, Dr. Arun Kumar Mehta on Saturday inaugurated the state-of-the-art new digital cardiac catheterization lab for SKIMS, Soura here.

On the occasion, Secretary, Health; Director, SKIMS; Director Health, Kashmir; HoDs of different departments of SKIMS and many other concerned officers participated in person or virtually through video link.

While speaking at this event, Dr. Mehta observed that the endeavour of the government is to provide the best facilities to its citizens. He said that the administration is committed to making every health institution sufficient in terms of facilities available as per their status. He maintained that the aim is to provide efficient and quality service.

The Chief Secretary impressed the health professionals to improve work ethics to improve satisfaction levels. He told them to work honestly and with integrity for the benefit of the poor masses. He termed the health sector as one of the foremost priorities of the LG administration and "the days are not far when people from outside would visit J&K for treatment instead of local people going outside the UT".

The Director SKIMS, Prof Parvaiz Koul revealed that the new digital cardiac catheterization lab dedicated to the public has been installed in the premier health Institute of the UT at a cost of Rs 8.5 crores. He further informed that the Cath Lab would enhance the capacity of the Institute to perform the advanced interventional cardiology procedures that are going to bring respite to a large number of patients here.

It was informed that the Cardiology department of SKIMS is a pioneer in J&K to do heart-related procedures right from 1982, the year of its establishment. It was also informed that the department has come a long way since then without losing its position of being the first choice among the patients for treatment.

It was informed that the department has long been doing the procedures like electrophysiological procedures, pacemaker removals, and other procedures. The department is said to be among the top Cardiology departments in the country in terms of its performance. The center is the only one in the UT, performing complicated and pediatric interventions regularly.

SRINAGAR — In six years, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura has registered over 27,000 patients ailing from cancer disease. Besides, the institute has witnessed 1833 deaths due to different types of cancer.

During this period, the institute has also issued 64,504 Out Patient Department (OPD) cards from the Department of Nephrology.

The official figures of SKIMS accessed by the news agency KNO reveal that from October 2016 to October 2022, the institute registered 27,727 cancer patients.

The Public Information Officer (PIO) SKIMS in a reply to Right to Information (RTI) said, “Total number of OPD cards issued under the Nephrology Department from October 2016 to October 2022 are 64504 and cancer patients registered are 27727.”

“From October 2016 to October 2022, a total number of 17,579 deaths have been registered,” the PIO said.

It also said that there are 1833 patients under Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy, Clinical Hematology and Surgical Oncology during these six years while under the Nephrology department, at least 1145 deaths were recorded.

The PIO also said that 1745 accidental deaths were also recorded by the institute during this period.

About the total number of patients admitted and treated in the State Cancer Institute since its establishment from December 5, 2020 to October 2022, the officer said that at least 2473 patients were admitted and treated while 659 deaths were also recorded.

On asking about the proposal submitted to the government for a separate kidney hospital, the PIO said, “Any kind of proposal for a separate kidney hospital will be dealt with by the administration.”

SRINAGAR — The Department of Nuclear Medicine in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) conducted the first case of Sentinal Lymphnode Scintigraphy in breast cancer patients on Saturday.

In a statement, a hospital spokesperson said the sample will be taken for SLN biopsy by the Department of Surgical Oncology, while this is another major milestone achieved by the department, benefitting cancer patients.

As per the statement, the Head of the Department Dr. Tanvir Ahmad informed that patients with breast cancer, tongue cancer, and melanoma are going to get benefitted from this procedure. “The procedure is the first of its kind available to the patients of J&K and will go a long way in improving the treatment of cancer patients.”

He said that Lymphoscintigraphy is an imaging technique that is used to identify the lymph drainage basin, determine the number of sentinel nodes, differentiate sentinel nodes from subsequent nodes, locate the sentinel node in an unexpected location, and mark the sentinel node over the skin for biopsy.

Director SKIMS Prof. Parvaiz A Koul complimented the department for conducting the procedure. “The advanced procedure will help poor patients which will be conducted now routinely at SKIMS,” he said, as reported by news agency KNO.

He added the patients had to go outside for such procedures, facing a lot of inconveniences and incurring a lot of expenditures. The procedure, now available at SKIMS, will facilitate such patients.

SRINAGAR — The government on Wednesday ordered for re-constitution of the Apical selection committee in the Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Soura.

As per an order issued by the government, Chief Secretary will be the Chairman of the committee and the Director SKIMS and Ex-Officio Secretary to the government will be the member Secretary of the government.

Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department, J&K, Director, AIIMS, New Delhi or Dean as his representative in the event of non-availability of Director, AIIMS, Director, PGIMER, Chandigarh or Dean as his representative in the event of non-availability of Director, PGIMER, Dr S. K. Singh, Department of Endocrinology & Metabolism, BHU, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, Prof M. Afzal Wani, former HoD Neurosurgery-cum-Dean Medical Faculty, SKIMS & Principal SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Director General, Codes, Finance Department, Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar and Principal, SKIMS Medical College Bemina will be members of the committee while Dean, Medical Faculty, SKIMS, Soura will be co-opted member.

The Apical Selection Committee would be assisted by experts from outside Jammu & Kashmir including two for selection/promotion to the Faculty positions at the level of Professor/Additional Professor and one for Associate Professor/Assistant Professor to be nominated by Director SKIMS and Professor & Head of the concerned Department for selection/promotion of Assistant Professor, Associate Professor and Additional Professor.

"The recommendations of the Apical Selection Committee shall be implemented by Director, SKIMS & Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government, with prior approval of the Chairman, Governing Body, SKIMS,” it said.

SRINAGAR — Director SKIMS Prof. Parvaiz A. Koul on Thursday had a detailed discussion with the visiting team from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) about the establishment of the Cadaver Organ Transplant Program at SKIMS.

In a statement issued here, Prof. Parvaiz A Koul apprised the team of the functioning of the Kidney Transplant Program at SKIMS and desired the urgent need for establishing the Cadaver Organ Retrieval Centre at SKIMS.

Later, the meeting was conducted under the chairmanship of HOD Urology & Kidney Transplant Unit Dr M Saleem Wani with the visiting team on National Organ Transplant Program and starting of Cadaver Transplant Program at SKIMS.

The meeting was attended by Dr Shazia Wafai, Senior Regional Director, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Mr Irfan Ahmad Lone, Transplant Coordinator, SOTTO J&K. During the meeting, a threadbare discussion was held regarding the Cadaver Transplant Program and its awareness amongst the medical professionals and the general public.

Prof. Saleem Wani briefed the participants about the ongoing Kidney Transplant Program at SKIMS and said SKIMS has a well-established Kidney Transplant Centre and is successfully conducting kidney transplants since 1999 and emphasised for Cadaver Retrieval Centre at SKIMS and underlined the need for liberal financial assistance for the same.

The team decided to have a sustained campaign for the deceased donor program and the establishment of green corridors for organ transport.

Prof. Saleem Wani informed the visiting team about the Cadaver Transplant Awareness Program conducted by the department in SKIMS eight years back in March 2014 and the organ pledge done for the first time in J&K during that program.

The visiting team from MOHFW expressed satisfaction with the successful Kidney Transplant Program at SKIMS and appreciated the Transplant team headed by Prof. Saleem Wani for the successful management of the program.

SRINAGAR — Washrooms, which were closed for repair works at Kashmir’s premier healthcare institute, Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Soura, have been made functional.

The development comes days after a news report was published about the closure of washrooms inside OPD at SKIMS Soura, thereby putting patients and attendants into a lot of inconveniences.

An official at SKIMS Soura, as per news agency KNO, said that washrooms have been made functional after repair and renovation work was completed in all 14 washrooms.

Patients and attendants had alleged that they were facing a lot of problems as washrooms inside OPD were closed for the last two weeks.

Meanwhile, they expressed gratitude to the SKIMS administration for their quick response and they also thanked the media for highlighting the genuine issue.

SRINAGAR — Heart patients from Kashmir Valley falling victims to illegal referrals reveal a nexus between local heart specialists and touts from Delhi and Haryana-based hospitals, that needs to be exposed.

Information gathered about tertiary care hospitals of Valley under the Right to Information Act (RTI) makes it clear that to grab money from helpless heart patients, heart specialists resort to criminal referrals fleecing and cheating the patients as well as attendants.

Information has been received from Heads of two Tertiary Care Health Institutions namely SMHS and SKIMS, particularly from their Cardiology Departments regarding the data of patients with heart attacks and their treatment in their hospitals during the year 2018-2019, through various RTI Applications under RTI Act, 2005, Vide RTI Application No. RTI/MC/344-45, Dated: July 25, 2019, and RTI No: 143/2019, Dated: July 29, 2019, respectively.

Incharge Head, Department of Cardiology, SMHS Hospital Srinagar, through Public Information Officer and HOD, Medicine, GMC Srinagar Vide No: PA/PO/RTI/047, Dated: September 23, 2020, has reported that 786 patients with heart attacks were admitted from January 2018 to December 2019 while as 1295 patients were admitted from January 2019 to February 2020 and therefore, a total of 2081 patients with heart attacks were admitted and treated in their department from January 2018 to February 2020.

As per the information, the department has done a total of 1345 angiographies and 736 angioplasties from January 2018 to February 2020 including 377 angioplasties from March 2019 to February 2020. It further mentions that “surgical patients are referred for surgery to only one Institution viz. SKIMS, Soura, the only government institution having the facility in Kashmir region, where surgical treatment for such patients is available."

It further reveals that a “Memorandum of Understanding” is existing between Principal GMC and Director SKIMS for emergency referrals from Cardiology to CVTS Department. “All heart attack patients requiring bypass surgery are referred to SKIMS” but there is no information about how many patients were referred from January 2018 to February 2020 for bypass surgery to SKIMS, which as per their reply is the only government hospital with a CVTS facility and the only designated referral institute for Super Speciality Hospital, Shireenbagh, Karan Nagar.

Principal, GMC Srinagar was requested on October 24, 2020, and December 7, 2020, to provide the details of all those patients who were referred out of 2081 patients to SKIMS for bypass surgery. The reply received through Public Information Officer, GMC, Srinagar Vide No: PA/PO/RTI/222, Dated: December 21, 2020, from I/C Consultant Department of Cardiology, SSH, Shireen Bagh, Karan Nagar reads that "regarding the details of patients referred to SKIMS for CABG, we currently do not have such mechanism in place to get the details of referred patients from 'outpatient file system' as such a facility does not exist for OPD patients."

As per information received from MS Office, Super Specialty Hospital, 11 doctors have been shown to be qualified in the department of Cardiology, however no proof of “Memorandum of Understanding” has been received from the department/SSH, Shireen Bagh. Therefore, the reply received makes it highly suspicious about the status of affairs in SSH, Shireenbagh falling under the administrative control of Principal GMC, Srinagar.

Reply received from Cardiology, SKIMS through Public Information Officer, Vide No: SIMS/RTI No. 143/2019-53-55, Dated: October 4, 2019, and SIMS/RTI No. 15/2020-260-62, Dated: June 4, 2020, revealed that 868 patients with heart attacks were admitted in his department and diagnosed by angiography during one year from July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

Out of 868 patients, 595 were treated by medical means, angioplasty. 66 patients have died during the period and 48 patients were advised for bypass surgery out of which seven were referred to surgeons for bypass surgery at SKIMS. However, the department has not mentioned what happened to the rest of the 41 patients who too were advised surgery and therefore, endorsing that majority of patients have died for want of bypass surgery which is not possible or sent to hospitals other than SKIMS.

The detailed information received from departments of Cardiology, SSH, Shireenbagh GMC, Srinagar and SKIMS, was sent to Director SKIMS on October 15, 2020, for authentication and pointwise reply. Public Information Officer, SKIMS on receiving relevant information from the concerned section, has sent his report Vide No: SIMS/RTI No. 39/2020-5354-57, Dated: November 18, 2020, which reads that “records reveal not a single patient out of 2081 patients with heart attacks has been received from SMHS, Hospital for bypass surgery during two years period w.e.f January 2018 to February 2020.

However, he conveyed that as per records available with SKIMS, one patient, namely Wani Aisha who was very sick due to a complex heart attack was referred to SKIMS four years back on November 11, 2016, for bypass surgery by SMHS. After hospitalization in SKIMS under MRD No: 0945984, she was successfully operated on for a heart attack (Coronary Bypass Surgery and Ventricular Septal Repair under IABP) and discharged from SKIMS on January 4, 2017.

With regards to information received from HOD, Cardiology SKIMS, the Public Information Officer, SKIMS has replied Vide No: SIMS/ RTI No. 39/2020-5354-57, Dated: November 18, 2020, that as per official records received from the concerned section, only two patients instead of seven patients mentioned in the report, have been received by the concerned department for bypass surgery during one year w.e.f July 1, 2018, to June 30, 2019.

The report further mentioned that rarely any patient with a heart attack is referred to surgeons by the Cardiology department and only those patients who are very sick and cannot afford to go outside or cannot be shifted to Delhi or elsewhere, are referred to surgeons for bypass surgery.

The Public Information Officer has further communicated that all gadgets and surgical expertise are available at SKIMS. He further informed that as per the feedback received from the concerned department, bypass surgery for heart attack patients has been started way back in 2005 at SKIMS but this program has never been supported and allowed to grow due to vested interests and unauthorized referrals. He informed that such surgery costs Rs. 1.0-1.50 lakh at SKIMS when the same surgery costs Rs. 6.0 lakhs to 15.0 lakhs in other hospitals in India.

Complaints from patients falling victim to illegal referrals have revealed that a nexus prevails between local heart specialists and touts from Delhi or Haryana-based hospitals. Circumstantial evidence has further revealed that many paramedics and specialists working at SKIMS, SMHS, SMGS, JLNM, GB Panth hospitals as well as private hospitals of Jammu and Kashmir are involved in the menace.

The complainants, as per news agency Kashmir News Trust, have even named various heart specialists of SKIMS, SMHS and other government hospitals who have been habitual of illegally referring such patients to private hospitals. There is a strong possibility that ulterior motives with financial nexus is behind this menace.

There are reports that admitted patients being fleeced under a unique design by the touts on the directions of specialist doctors, disappear suddenly from wards in tertiary care hospitals, in particular, SKIMS and SMHS. Not only heart specialists but even other types of specialists from departments of Neurology, Nephrology, Pediatrics, etc are involved in this malpractice, getting heavy cuts.

The information received from two tertiary care hospitals under RTI has raised many questions on the health care system and its management which requires urgent attention at a higher level.

“It’s a big mafia. If Anti-Corruption Bureau will take pains and deeply study this invisible scam, a massive scam will surface and top doctors will get trapped in the net,” said a medico on the condition of anonymity.

SRINAGAR — The authorities at SKIMS Soura have advised people to remain alert and not to fall prey to unscrupulous elements as fake appointment orders are currently under circulation.

"It has come to the notice of this Department that some fake appointment orders are currently under circulation, where-under several persons have been shown to have been appointed as D.E.Os/N.Os/FMPHW/GNM/OTs/Lab Technicians in SKIMS, whereas no such orders or related correspondence have been issued by this Department," reads the public notice.

"It is made clear that SKIMS has not issued any such appointment orders and some unscrupulous elements are operating, thereby trying to mislead the candidates by issuing such fabricated orders of appointment against various posts at SKIMS which shall not be treated as authentic," it reads.

SRINAGAR — Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Science (SKIMS) has created an Endowment Fund to help poor and needy people.

In a statement issued to the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO), authorities at SKIMS have appealed to all philanthropists and social organizations to donate liberally towards this fund so that precious lives can be saved.

"To provide financial assistance to poor patients living below the poverty line and falling under the low-income group, SKIMS has created SKIMS Endowment Fund to help poor and needy, as is in vogue in other tertiary care institutions of the country," the statement said.

It added that SKIMS Endowment Fund has been approved by Governing Body of SKIMS, under which financial assistance is provided to poor patients who are suffering from life-threatening diseases such as cancer, advanced heart diseases, those who require renal or hepatic transplants.

"Besides, many such other illnesses where a patient can’t afford the financial implications on account of his/her limited resources/poverty are also covered under the scheme," reads the appeal issued by Medical Superintendent SKIMS and Head Financial schemes.

The statement said, "Donations/contributions may be credited to the account number SB-0342040100015060 J&K Bank, SKIMS Soura, IFSC Code: JAKA0SKIMSS."