New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Monday sought enhancement of the honorarium for National Health Mission (NHM) employees and Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers, early completion of AIIMS Awantipora and establishment of trauma hospitals in border areas during the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW).
The conference, held at Vigyan Bhawan, was chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and attended by Union Ministers of State for Health, Health Ministers from states and Union Territories, senior officials of the Union Health Ministry and members of the CCHFW.
During the meeting, Itoo outlined the implementation of flagship health programmes in Jammu and Kashmir and the Union Territory’s roadmap for expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare.
She urged the Centre to establish trauma hospitals at Surankote in Poonch district and Uri in Baramulla district to improve emergency medical care during armed conflict and natural disasters. She also sought the provision of bulletproof ambulances for these border areas.
The minister called for an increase in the honorarium of NHM employees and ASHA workers, stating that no revision had been made over the past decade despite their key role in the healthcare system.
Itoo also pressed for the early completion of AIIMS Awantipora, describing it as a major project for strengthening healthcare services in the Kashmir Valley. According to the statement, Union Minister J.P. Nadda assured that the project would be expedited and informed the meeting that ₹250 crore had recently been released for its construction.
The minister further sought an increase in postgraduate (PG) and MD seats in medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir to strengthen the healthcare workforce. Nadda asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to submit a proposal, assuring that the Union Ministry would examine it.
The Union Health Minister also asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to submit proposals for upgrading existing trauma hospitals and assured that these would be considered on priority, the statement said.
