Centre move to transfer BMHRC

BHOPAL: Union government has for the first time admitted that it was contemplating transfer of Bhopal memorial hospital and research centre (BMHRC) to Madhya Pradesh government. Earlier, the state government had formally asked for a takeover of BMHRC that has led to confusion and a protest like situation at the hospital campus on Saturday.
The latest cause of concern was triggered after a reply to BMHRC employee's letter from the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) that stated, 'Matter regarding transfer of administrative control of BMHRC from Union government to MP government is being taken up by the competent authority and a decision would be taken at an appropriate time.' Many BMHRC employees are against the transfer to MP government.
Taking up the issue, some BMHRC employee associations have written to the Union government's department of health research (DHR) shocked and dismayed over the possibility of a transfer to state government. Currently, BMHRC is administrated by DHR and with a yearly budget of around Rs 140 crore. Employees have been demanding implementation of recruitment rules, for their full-fledged merger as central government employees.
When contacted DHR official refused about any move relating to transfer of the hospital to state government and said, "We have not received a proposal from MP government." Reply from PMO, came after an all-important meeting earlier this month between MP government and DHR officials. Indications are the transfer may take place in the next few weeks.
DHR is also facing a contempt petition in the MP High Court with regards to medical care of gas victims. Activist Abdul Jabbar is the petitioner in the case.