JAMMU: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today held a meeting to conduct a comprehensive review of several key projects underway in the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department.
The review covered the progress of Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) being established across districts under the Pradhan Mantri–Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), developments made under the Emergency COVID Response Package-II (ECRP-II), expansion of IHIP, adherence to IPHS standards, and the status of NCDC laboratories and VRDL facilities across J&K.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary, H&ME; Mission Director, NHM; Principals of Government Medical Colleges; Managing Director, HSCC; Director Health, Kashmir/Jammu and other senior officers of the department.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary undertook project-wise appraisal of all ongoing works, particularly the CCBs, and directed HSCC to significantly scale up manpower and machinery by at least three times to ensure timely completion within the scheme deadline.
He underscored that the release of funds under these Centrally Sponsored Schemes is directly linked to the submission of Utilization Certificates, stressing the importance of full fund utilisation before the closure of the schemes.
Reviewing the physical and financial progress, availability of skilled and unskilled manpower, and the improvement recorded since the last review in June 2025, the Chief Secretary instructed the MD, HSCC to intensify on-ground monitoring and field visits. He highlighted that projects amounting to over ₹800 Cr under PM-ABHIM and ₹166 Cr under ECRP-II must be completed within stipulated timelines for the funds of such a magnitude can’t be arranged later for completion of these projects here.
He further called for enhancement of IPHS scores across health facilities, noting that higher certification reflects improved service quality and public trust. Stressing the importance of strengthening disease surveillance and diagnostics, he directed expedited efforts for establishing NCDC laboratories in Jammu and Srinagar.
Updating on the infrastructure progress, the Secretary, H&ME informed that procurement processes for equipment are being contemplated out to ensure immediate operationalisation of facilities post-completion. Under PM-ABHIM, he revealed that two 100-bedded CCBs are under construction at GMC Jammu and District Hospital Budgam, while seven 50-bedded CCBs are coming up at GMC Kathua, GMC Rajouri, GMC Doda, GMC Anantnag, SKIMS Medical College Bemina, and District Hospital Kulgam. Additionally, 20 District Integrated Public Health Labs (DIPHLs) and 287 Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) are being set up across the UT.
He also gave out that under ECRP-II, work is underway on seven more 50-bedded CCBs at GMC Udhampur and the District Hospitals of Reasi, Pulwama, Kupwara, Poonch, Shopian, and Ganderbal.
The MD, NHM, Baseer-ul-Haq Choudhary, presented a detailed status report, highlighting location-wise progress of CCBs and DIPHLs, along with comparative improvements since the previous review. He informed that regular assessments and field inspections are being conducted to accelerate execution.
The meeting also reviewed the establishment of 79 Urban Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (UAAMs), of which 53 have been completed with efforts underway to achieve completion by March 2025 itself.
The SNO, NHM, Dr. Harjeet Rai, presented progress on the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP), a digital surveillance system of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. He informed that J&K ranks among the top five States/UTs at the national level, with 3,796 health facilities mapped on the platform, enabling real-time monitoring of syndromic, presumptive, and laboratory-confirmed cases.
He added that over the past year, 133 outbreaks affecting 3,250 individuals and resulting in 8 deaths were reported through IHIP. The platform also tracks dog bites, snake bites, and dengue cases on a real-time basis.
The progress on establishing NCDC laboratories at Kot Bhalwal (Jammu) and Srinagar was also reviewed. Regarding IPHS compliance, it was informed that 3,526 out of 3,533 health facilities have undergone assessment, with 1,992 facilities scoring between 50–69%, 198 between 70–79%, and 160 facilities scoring above 80%, the highest category under the standards.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed the functioning of Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratories (VRDLs) at the Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar, including their expanding portfolio of diagnostic investigations and ongoing research projects on viruses such as Influenza and Rotavirus for the benefit of people of the UT.
