Jammu, Feb 18 ; The Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the legislative assembly that an allocation of Rs 400 crore has been made for procurement of medical equipment for hospitals across the Union Territory for 2025-26, while attributing delays in the process to “procedural requirements”.
In a written reply to a query raised by legislator Javid Hassan Baig during the ongoing budget session, the government as per news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) said a procurement plan of Rs 373.11 crore has already been issued to the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL).
“The department is actively pursuing the procurement process of the machinery items, including those committed by the chief minister. The status of the procurement of the machinery involving an amount of Rs 345.97 crore is attached as Annexure A and Annexure B. Therefore the delay, if any involved, in the procurement process is purely procedural,” the reply stated.
Responding to specific queries about fund releases for Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla, the government said a purchase order has been placed for a Cath Lab at the facility.
For Community Health Centre (CHC) Uri, two dialysis units are under purchase order while an AI-based X-ray machine is in the tendering process with financial bids to be opened soon, it said.
The government further informed that procurement of a 3 Tesla MRI machine for GMC Baramulla is “almost complete”, though “rate responsibility” is yet to be ascertained by an expert committee.
Plans for telemedicine services across six hubs were also mentioned, though no specific timelines were provided.
The reply however did not name any officers responsible for the delays, maintaining that the holdup was inherent to procedural norms of procurement. (KNS)
