Jammu: Minister for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare Sakeena Itoo on Monday reviewed the overall healthcare scenario across Jammu and Kashmir, taking stock of the functioning of medical institutions, availability of healthcare facilities, manpower position, infrastructure development and delivery of patient-care services.
During the review meeting, the minister emphasised the need to strengthen food safety measures and drug testing facilities across the Union Territory. She called upon the department to procure additional mobile testing vans to expand testing facilities and improve monitoring of food and drug quality.
Itoo said strengthening the public healthcare delivery system, upgrading medical infrastructure and ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen remained the government’s foremost priorities.
She called for a coordinated and result-oriented approach among departments and healthcare institutions to address gaps in service delivery and ensure that the benefits of ongoing healthcare initiatives reached people at the grassroots level.
Stressing the need to improve healthcare access in remote and underserved areas, the minister said institutions in far-flung locations must be adequately equipped with essential medical facilities, diagnostic services, medicines and qualified healthcare professionals. She said patients should not be compelled to travel long distances to access basic medical treatment.
Reviewing the manpower position, Itoo directed the department to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the requirement and deployment of doctors, specialists, nurses, paramedical staff and other supporting personnel across healthcare institutions.
She stressed that rational deployment of staff should be guided by patient load, institutional requirements and the availability of specialised services, with particular attention to areas facing shortages.
“Doctors, paramedics and other healthcare professionals are the backbone of our public health system. We must ensure that their services are utilised in the most effective manner and that no healthcare institution, particularly in remote and underserved areas, suffers due to avoidable manpower gaps,” she said.
The minister also directed the department to ensure immediate posting of medical officers recruited recently, emphasising the need to address staffing requirements and strengthen healthcare delivery across both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
Reviewing infrastructure development, she called for timely completion of ongoing projects, proper maintenance of existing facilities and early operationalisation of completed infrastructure. She said the focus should not be limited to the creation of physical assets but should also ensure that hospitals and health centres were adequately equipped, staffed and made fully functional.
Itoo stressed the need to strengthen primary and secondary healthcare services, improve diagnostic facilities and expand access to specialised treatment so that patients could receive quality medical care closer to their homes.
On the availability of medicines and medical equipment, she called for a robust procurement and distribution mechanism, strict quality control and transparent procedures. The concerned authorities were directed to ensure timely availability of essential and life-saving medicines, surgical consumables and functional medical equipment in all government healthcare institutions.
The minister also called for strengthening emergency healthcare services, ambulance facilities, referral mechanisms and critical care infrastructure to ensure timely medical intervention, particularly in cases requiring specialised and emergency treatment.
She directed the department to procure around 100 ambulances, including an adequate number of 4×4 vehicles for areas with difficult terrain, particularly in the hilly regions of the Union Territory.
Emphasising preventive healthcare, Itoo called for sustained efforts in immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, disease surveillance, health awareness and community-level interventions. She stressed the importance of early diagnosis, preventive screening and public awareness in reducing the burden of preventable diseases.
“Public healthcare must be driven by compassion, accountability and commitment. Every patient visiting a government health institution deserves dignified treatment, timely attention and quality medical care. There should be no compromise on patient safety, cleanliness and the overall standards of healthcare services,” she said.
The minister also called for strengthening monitoring mechanisms at both administrative and institutional levels. She directed senior officers to undertake regular field visits, interact with healthcare professionals and assess the functioning of hospitals and other health facilities. Officers were asked to remain responsive to public grievances and take prompt corrective measures wherever deficiencies were identified.
Reiterating the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir, Itoo said the department must work with a clear roadmap, measurable targets and a focus on outcomes. She stressed that all decisions taken during the meeting should be implemented within stipulated timelines through close coordination among the concerned officers.
