SHOPIAN: Deputy Commissioner Shopian Charandeep Singh on Saturday directed the Health and Medical Education Department to improve patient care, optimise staff deployment and expedite ongoing infrastructure projects to address gaps in healthcare delivery across the district.
Chairing a review meeting, Singh stressed the need for accessible and responsive healthcare services, with particular emphasis on reducing delays and ensuring that patients receive appropriate treatment locally.
He directed officials to accelerate ongoing developmental works and ensure that essential diagnostic facilities, including X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound services at the District Hospital, remain fully functional without disruption.
The Deputy Commissioner also reviewed the progress of New Type Primary Health Centre (NTPHC) buildings and called for their timely completion, structural readiness and provision of modern amenities.
Emphasising the need for round-the-clock healthcare services, he stressed the importance of establishing doctors’ quarters across the district to support the availability of medical personnel.
Singh further directed the department to ensure the availability of surgeons, cardiologists and emergency specialists to facilitate life-saving procedures within the district and reduce referrals to hospitals elsewhere.
The meeting also reviewed the performance of Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), healthcare staff and other frontline functionaries, with the DC calling for stronger grassroots outreach and better coordination between healthcare providers and the public.
He urged officials to discharge their duties with dedication and empathy, address communication gaps and ensure that patients receive timely treatment without avoidable delays or referrals.
The status of projects being implemented under the Union Territory Capex Budget 2026–27, Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP), C-UT Capex and various tribal schemes was also reviewed.
The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer Mudasir Ahmed, Chief Medical Officer Salama Nazir, Block Medical Officers and other health functionaries.