Srinagar, Sep 29: The government on Tuesday constituted a Departmental Committee for examination of issues relating to the Hospital Development Fund (HDF) and formulation of guidelines for its management and utilization.

According to Government Order, sanction has been accorded to the constitution of a Departmental Committee to examine the existing framework governing the Hospital Development Fund (HDF) in Government Health Institutions and to formulate/recommend appropriate guidelines for its transparent, accountable and effective management and utilization.
The Committee shall comprise Principal, Government Medical College, Srinagar as Chairperson and Director Finance, Health & Medical Education Department, Director Health Services Jammu, Director Health Services Kashmir and Senior-most Chief Medical Officer as Members.
As per Terms of Reference, the Committee shall comprehensively examine the existing framework governing the Hospital Development Fund, assess prevailing practices and financial arrangements, undertake a comparative evaluation of similar institutional models and recommend appropriate, transparent, accountable and sustainable measures for its effective management and utilization in Government Hospitals.
The Committee shall, inter alia, obtain and consider the views/suggestions of the Hon’ble Members of the Legislative Assembly regarding the proposed guidelines governing the Hospital Development Fund, define the objectives, scope and permissible areas for collection and utilization of HDF, examine the existing rules, practices and institutional arrangements governing the collection, accounting and utilization of HDF and identify gaps, deficiencies and areas requiring improvement.
It shall undertake a comparative study of the practices and frameworks followed by reputed Government hospitals and healthcare institutions across the country and identify best practices that may suitably be adopted in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir, formulate comprehensive, transparent and accountable guidelines governing the collection, custody, accounting, utilization and monitoring of HDF, recommend appropriate modalities for collection, accounting, budgeting, utilization and audit of HDF receipts and expenditure, including suitable financial controls and reporting mechanisms.
It shall suggest measures for optimal and need-based utilization of HDF for improvement of patient care, hospital infrastructure, equipment, sanitation, essential services and overall service delivery, recommend an effective monitoring and evaluation mechanism, including periodic review and reporting, for assessing the utilization and impact of HDF, examine the existing ratio/arrangement for remittance of HDF receipts to the Departmental Revenue Head and recommend suitable modifications, wherever considered necessary, keeping in view the requirements of the hospitals as well as the broader financial interests of the Government, and recommend any other measures considered necessary for ensuring efficient, transparent, accountable and patient-centric management of the Hospital Development Fund.
The Committee has been asked to submit its recommendations to the Government within a month.