'Which is undoubtedly very less. If we have proper number of nurses taking care of the patients, then we can have lesser number of attendants who obstruct the working of hospitals.'

The minister said the manpower crunch is even more acute in hospitals at the district level. But he did not have the figures as they come under the health department.

The GMCH Srinagar and Jammu have been approved for upgradation to the level of All India Institute of Medical Science at a cost of Rs.120 crore under the prime minister's reconstruction plan.

Moreover, nine super-speciality hospitals, an Institute of Traumatology and a nursing college have been sanctioned for Srinagar. While Jammu will have 15 super speciality hospitals with 220 beds being created or up-graded.

'But before we talk of those super speciality hospitals, we have to provide the basics in the real sense,' the minister said.

Chib said though the state-run hospitals have all the sophisticated machines like MRI, CT scan, ultrasould and heart echo, people still prefer private hospitals and clinics.

'I am looking into the reasons why patients go to private clinics for these tests.'