SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Monday informed the Legislative Assembly that 50 health institutions are currently functional in Bani Constituency and 31 in Bandipora Constituency, while several infrastructure projects are underway to strengthen healthcare services in both areas.
Replying to separate questions raised by MLAs Dr Rameshwar Singh and Nizam-ud-din Bhat, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo said 50 health institutions are operational in Bani, of which 19 function from private or rented buildings, while the remaining institutions operate from their own premises.
She said construction of a Health Sub-Centre at Bhakoga is underway under funding from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The government plans to provide permanent buildings to the remaining institutions in a phased manner, subject to availability of land and resources, she added.
For Bandipora Constituency, the minister said 31 healthcare institutions, including the District Hospital, Auxiliary Nurse Midwife Training (ANMT) School, Primary Health Centres, New Type Primary Health Centres (NTPHCs) and Health and Wellness Centres, are currently functional.
She informed the House that three healthcare infrastructure projects are under execution in Bandipora and are expected to augment medical facilities in the constituency upon completion.
Itoo said the government is continuously assessing healthcare requirements and prioritising strengthening of facilities in peripheral, underserved and remote areas.
On staffing, the minister said the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) had recommended 416 Medical Officers, of whom 335 have already been appointed. These doctors will be posted according to healthcare requirements, with priority given to underserved and difficult areas, she said.
She also informed the Assembly that 466 non-gazetted posts under the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir, have been referred to the recruiting agency for selection of eligible candidates, while vacancies among other non-gazetted and paramedical staff are being filled on a priority basis.
Addressing infrastructure concerns in Bandipora, Itoo said no health institution in the constituency had been abandoned. She added that NTPHC Quil Muqam is fully functional, while NTPHC Wular Lake is expected to be completed by the end of the current financial year. The District Hospital Bandipora is also fully operational.
Responding to a separate query, the minister said four healthcare workers from Bani Constituency had been attached, deployed or relocated during the past two years.
