SRINAGAR: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review overall healthcare infrastructure and facilities in Budhal and Surankote Assembly Constituencies.
MLA Budhal, Javid Iqbal Choudhary; MLA Surankote, Choudhary Mohammad Akram; Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed; Director Health Services Jammu, Chief Medical Officers of Rajouri and Poonch districts, besides other senior officers of the health department, attended the meeting in person and virtually.
The Minister had an in-depth assessment of the existing healthcare infrastructure and its associated facilities in the Budhal and Surankote Assembly Constituencies. She also took stock of medical equipment, medicines and other essential facilities available for the people of these far-flung areas.
Addressing the officers, the Minister emphasized on the need for strengthening healthcare infrastructure, upgrading medical equipment and ensuring the availability of essential medicines in remote areas of these constituencies. She asked the officers to establish telemedicine facilities in these areas, especially in critical spots having fewer nearby health facilities. She further asked them to ensure an ample quantity of life-saving drugs are available in these places, as it will reduce the chances of fatalities during referral.
Taking strong notice of the shortage of specialist doctors, the Minister directed the Secretary of Health and the Director of Health to cancel all attachments immediately and post them at their designated places. She also asked them to deploy specialist doctors on a roster basis at the health facilities of these constituencies in order to amplify healthcare services in these areas.
The Minister asked the Secretary of Health and the Director of Health to initiate action against the doctors indulging in private practice during working hours. She asked them to conduct surprise inspections of health facilities in order to make the doctors and other paramedical staff more accountable.
The Minister, during the meeting, also called for generating maximum awareness regarding the PMJAY SEHAT scheme among the people of these areas so that they can take the desired benefits from it.
