JAMMU: The Committee on Estimates of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Thursday reviewed the functioning of the Health and Medical Education Department, focusing on healthcare infrastructure, staff shortages, financial management and service delivery across the Union Territory.
The meeting, chaired by Committee Chairman Nazir Ahmad Khan Gurezi, also examined the status of recommendations made during previous meetings and the Action Taken Report submitted by the department.
During the deliberations, the committee reviewed the availability and deployment of medical personnel, vacant posts, ongoing infrastructure projects, maintenance of healthcare institutions and the functioning of medical equipment.
It also examined fund utilisation, hospital development works, heating arrangements, drug control drives and the use of ambulance services.
Emphasising healthcare access in remote, far-flung and snowbound areas, Gurezi directed the department to ensure that hospitals and other health institutions were adequately equipped with essential medicines, diagnostic facilities, modern equipment and qualified medical professionals.
He called for expediting the introduction of telemedicine services in remote and snowbound areas to facilitate medical consultations and improve access to specialist healthcare.
The chairman also stressed the need for rational deployment of available medical staff, particularly in underserved areas, and directed officials to ensure effective implementation of the biometric attendance system for healthcare personnel.
He called for stronger monitoring mechanisms to improve accountability, punctuality and service delivery, directing the concerned heads of departments to address the issues raised during the meeting on priority.
The meeting was attended by committee members Sham Lal Sharma, Balwant Singh Mankotia, Ali Mohammad Dar, Mushtaq Guroo, Irshad Rasool Kar, Sajad Shaheen and Sunil Bhardwaj.
Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Saugat Biswas; Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS); Managing Director, National Health Mission; principals of various government medical colleges; Director General Budget; Directors of Health Services, Jammu and Kashmir; and other senior officials were also present.
