Srinagar, Mar 03: The health department in Kashmir has five times hiked the application fee for the registration of genetic counselling centre, genetic laboratory, genetic clinic, ultrasound clinic centres and Imaging centre.

Sources said that earlier for registration, diagnostic centres were submitting Rs 5,000 for five years but now the fee has been hiked five times and diagnostic centres will have to submit Rs 25,000 for the same.

According to an order dispatched to all chief medical officers of Kashmir division by Directorate of Health Services Kashmir, a copy of which lies with Kashmir News Observer, reads that,”… every application for registrations under rule 4 shall be accompanied by an application fee of Rs 25,000/-(Rupees twenty-five thousand] for Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory, Genetic Clinic, Ultrasound Clinic and Imaging Centre, provided that if the application for registration for any Genetic Clinic/laboratory/centre etc has been rejected by the Appropriate Authority, no fee shall be required to be paid on re-submission of the application by the applicant for the same body within 90 days of rejection.”

“Provided further that any subsequent application shall be accompanied with the prescribed fee. The application fee once paid will not be refunded. The application fee shall be paid by a demand draft in favour of the Appropriate Authority, on any scheduled bank payable at the headquarters of the appropriate authority concerned. The fees collected by the Appropriate Authorities for registration of Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory, Genetic Clinic, Ultrasound Clinic and Imaging Centre or any other body or person under sub-rule (1) shall be deposited by the Appropriate Authority concerned in a bank account opened in the name of the official designation of the Appropriate Authority concerned and shall be utilized by the Appropriate Authority in connection with the activities connected with the implementation of the provisions of the Act and these rules,” the order reads.

Meanwhile, the J&K private diagnostic centres association termed the order “injustice” and said that the overall burden would increase on patients.

Umar Iqbal Dhar President Private Diagnostic Centre J&K said that clerks have become dictators at both directorates office as well as chief medical officer offices in J&K as they preparing orders on their will.

“As per the government order, before preparing any order, they have to take members of the professional association on board, which wasn’t done,” he said, adding that clerks are dictating to CMOs as well as to Director.

On contacting Director Health Services Kashmir Dr Sameer Matoo, he said that he will look into the matter and stakeholders will be taken on board. kno