Muzaffarpur, Feb. 1: The failure of Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) to utilise a central fund of Rs 6 crore has cast a shadow on the plan to introduce 12 postgraduate courses in the institute in June.

The Union government had sanctioned Rs 18 crore to the health hub in 2010 as part of its infrastructure development plan for the postgraduate courses. It also requested the state government to fill up the vacant posts of doctors. Two years have passed since then, but the SKMCH authorities could not utilise the first instalment of Rs 6 crore that they received from the Centre in December 2010.

The central government’s fund was aimed at strengthening the departments with necessary medical equipment ahead of starting the postgraduate courses.

SKMCH principal Dr D.K. Sinha said repeated reminders to the heads of various departments to furnish necessary requisition to start the courses have proved futile.

He told The Telegraph: “The Centre had sent Rs 6 crore as the first instalment for infrastructure development at SKMCH. But as things stand now, the money is unspent. I have issued repeated reminders in writing to the heads of departments (HoDs) to furnish a list of infrastructure required to start the postgraduate courses. However, the HoDs are reluctant to submit the details.”

The central government had allotted 26 seats to the health hub for the 12 courses and directed the Medical Council of India (MCI) to pave the way for starting the postgraduate programmes.

Dr Sinha said the MCI had allowed SKMCH to start postgraduate courses in anatomy, gynaecology, medicine, physiology, radiology, pharmacology, pathology, biotechnology, surgery, microbiology, biochemistry and preventive and social medicine.

However, in the absence of requisition list from the heads of departments and the dearth of doctors, Dr Sinha said he was in a fix to start the courses as scheduled from June-July 2012. He added that he has sought guidelines from the state government to fill the vacancies.

SKMCH superintendent Dr G.K. Thakur said the dearth of doctors has plagued the health hub for years. The superintendent said he has also requested the state government several times to fill up the vacant posts of doctors at the SKMCH. But nothing concrete has been done so far, he rued. At present, around 79 posts of doctors are vacant at the health hub as against a sanctioned strength of 154.

In 2008, the MCI had objected to the lackadaisical attitude of the state government to fill the vacant posts of doctors, nurses and paramedical staff at the health hub. Although, over the years, posts of nurses and paramedical staff have been filled to an extent, there are not adequate doctors.

The superintendent said the state government has been constantly urged to fill up the vacancies for streamlining healthcare and education at the SKMCH.