HT Special | Sick state: Medicos left in the lurch as Gian Sagar medical college closes

With 1,500 students and an equal number of staffers, Gian Sagar Medical College and Hospital in Banur, 35 km from Chandigarh’s bus stand, was a beehive of activity till about a year ago. Its hospital attracted 1,000-odd patients and their attendants from the adjoining areas every day.

These days, the only noise that reverberates in its corridors is that of protesting students and staffers. The employees, including faculty, have not received their salaries since October last year. No classes have been held after January. Exams are round the corner but students don’t know whether they will be able to appear in them.

STUDENTS, STAFF PROTEST

The institute was all chaos when the Hindustan Times team visited it this week. There was no power or water supply – we learnt that both had been disconnected. The doors of most rooms, including classrooms, were locked. A bunch of students stood protesting outside the institute.

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There’s no restriction on the entry as security guards have also joined the protesters, who include some doctors (60% quit after not being paid) and other staffers. Inside, a tehsildar and a few police personnel were taking down notes from the protesters. They said they were here to take a memorandum of demands. “We’ve been assured that our memorandum will reach former Patiala member of Parliament Preneet Kaur, who will do something about us,” said a faculty member, requesting anonymity. “We’ve knocked at all doors, the health minister, the chief minister, and several bureaucrats. Nothing has happened so far. But we can only hope for better.”

“We don’t know what happens next. It’s a deserted place now with no power and water, and no staffers as they haven’t been paid for six-seven months now,” said the institute’s dean, Dr AS Sekhon. “Whether students get to sit in exams will depend on Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, which would know that there have been no classes for two months now,” he added.

The institute wasn’t always like this. Figures provided by the hospital say that in 2015, more than 3.2 lakh outdoor patients came here for treatment, which translates into 1,100 people a day. The hospital had 1.93 lakh indoor patients that year, which works out to 530 per day. The 626-bed hospital with 10 super-specialty departments such as neurology and urology, and 20 multi-specialty departments such as emergency and trauma, boasted of 85% occupancy during its peak.

The institute is spread across 100 acres and has two campuses with several buildings, colleges, departments and hostels. The medical college has 100 seats, which is double that of Chandigarh’s Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32. GMCH-32 usually offers 50 seats, which are increased to 100 only after annual clearance by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

The college had a smooth run since its inception in 2007 with its enrolment increasing to 1,500 students in various streams over the past decade.

FINANCIAL BUNGLING

When its faculty and paramedical staff sat on dharna for the first time in February last year to demand their pending wages, it was perceived as a temporary crisis. A recent government inspection report pinned the blame on financial mismanagement by the administration, which failed to prioritise compulsory expenditures, including staff salaries, despite collecting the annual fee of over Rs 35 crore from students.

While the management in its defence claims that much of its revenue went into paying off bank loans, the protesting faculty is not ready to buy it. A teacher alleged there is apparent siphoning of funds and wasteful expenditure at the behest of the top management. “For example, under MCI rules, the college does not need a chief executive officer, but it has one who draws over 72 lakh per annum even though he has no technical knowledge to run the college. We don’t need two posts of dean and principal as only one is sufficient,” said a faculty member.

He added that college accounts showed that Rs 40 lakh was paid as salary to bouncers, which is surprising. They also alleged that the books showed more number of employees than those actually on the rolls. The salaries being drawn by the trustees are also shrouded in secrecy.

Protesters say the college has fine infrastructure and it can still run effectively if the management has the right intent.

‘MANAGEMENT NOT COOPERATING’

Ever since I assumed charge as minister, I have spent most of my time addressing problems being faced by students of Gian Sagar College. But all my efforts have been futile because the management did not cooperate and back-tracked on its commitment to clear the salary dues of staff and faculty. We have now placed the matter before chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who will convene a meeting of senior officials on April 15 to take a final call on this matter. The government is concerned about the future of over 1,500 students and will take an appropriate call on priority.

-- Brahm Mohindra, Punjab minister for health and medical education

THEY SAY

I get Rs 12,000 per month as salary, which hasn’t been paid for six months. The management promised in writing that our interests will be protected. The government must intervene.

-- Jaswinder Singh, technician

I am the only earning member in my family. My father has been ill. I ahve worked hard here all these months, but for five months, I haven’t been paid a single rupee.

-- Manpreet Singh, security guard

There has been no power and water. There’s no security either. All girls have been forced to vacate hostels. We come here occasionally to find out if there is any positive development.

-- Amandeep Kaur, student of BSc nursing

I come from Rajpura daily with the hope of getting salary. My family has no money to buy wheat. I have been spending money on bus fare.

-- Pardeep Kaur, assistant

My husband is a daily wager and he gets work on some days. That’s why my salary was very crucial to run the household. I’ve worked hard for seven years here, but it’s getting bad to worse.

--Ranjeet Kaur, assistant