PIMS also under govt scanner
CHANDIGARH: With chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh ordering a close watch on private medical colleges running in the state, the functioning of the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Jalandhar, has also come under the scanner. The CM has suggested handing over the institute to groups such as Medanta.
PIMS, having a prime property with a market value of over ₹2,500 crore, remained in controversies ever since it was handed over to the concessionaire — PIMS Charitable Society — in January 2010 by the Parkash Singh Badal government on a 99-year lease with former Akali minister Surjit Singh Rakhra being its chairman.
Sources said the CM was apprised how Rakhra-led the society running PIMS “conspicuously” withdrew itself from the institute without following “procedures” and from allowed Fortis Group to take over the project.
“The CM suggested that the institution, with its world-class infrastructure, be handed over to some reputed medical group like Medanta, after following proper procedure, in order to optimally utilise its potential,” read an official press release issued here on Wednesday. The CM also asked the authorities to identify alternatives, other than fee hike, to recover recurring costs.
When contacted, health minister Brahm Mohindra confirmed that the functioning of PIMS was discussed at length at a meeting, especially the way the Rakhra-led society handed it over to Fortis.
“Societies running PIMS are not giving us exact information. Initially, one society was running the institute and later they signed a MoU with Fortis. The society is a defaulter and Fortis is not coming at the forefront to admit that it was running the institute,” said the health minister.
After the institute was handed over to the Rakhra-led society, it remained in the news for lack of funds and no irregular payment to the staff.
HEALTH MINISTER SAYS SOCIETY RUNNING PIMS IS A GOVT DEFAULTER; CAPT SUGGESTS HANDING OVER INSTITUTE TO GROUPS SUCH AS MEDANTA