Jammu: The National Health Mission (NHM), Jammu and Kashmir, on Saturday reviewed the status of procurement, supply chain management and healthcare delivery initiatives being implemented through the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), with a focus on ensuring timely availability of medicines, medical equipment and diagnostic services across the Union Territory.
The review meeting was chaired by Mission Director NHM J&K Athar Aamir Ul Shafi Khan and Managing Director JKMSCL Tariq Hussain Ganie at the State Health Society office in Nagrota, Jammu. Senior officers of both organisations attended the meeting.
During the review, the Mission Director stressed the need for timely procurement of essential medicines and medical supplies under NHM and directed officials to remove procedural bottlenecks that could affect the uninterrupted delivery of healthcare services across districts.
The progress of the Free Drugs Initiative was reviewed, with particular emphasis on adhering to supply schedules, expediting the clearance of pending indents and reconciling outstanding liabilities from previous periods. The officials were asked to ensure that healthcare institutions receive essential medicines within the prescribed timelines.
The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, under which recent purchase orders have been placed for new haemodialysis machines intended for healthcare facilities in both the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
Procurement of advanced TruNaat machines and associated equipment also figured prominently during the discussions. The equipment is intended to strengthen decentralised molecular diagnostic testing facilities, particularly in remote healthcare institutions.
The officials further assessed the functioning of the emergency and patient transport ambulance network, with emphasis on maintaining operational standards, reducing response times and ensuring maximum availability of the fleet to cater to patients requiring emergency transportation.
The expansion of the National Free Diagnostics Initiative and tele-radiology services was also reviewed. These initiatives are aimed at improving access to diagnostic facilities, particularly in rural and far-flung areas, while reducing the out-of-pocket expenditure of patients.
The meeting also took stock of the functioning of the 24-hour medical helpline and discussed measures to ensure timely finalisation of tenders, uninterrupted healthcare counselling, effective grievance redressal and coordination of ambulance services for callers requiring medical assistance.
Legal issues concerning the Biomedical Equipment Maintenance Programme were also discussed during the meeting.
Concluding the review, both managing directors stressed the need for transparency in procurement, strict quality control and timely distribution of medicines and equipment to healthcare institutions. They also emphasised the digital integration of inventory management systems to improve monitoring of stocks, streamline supplies and strengthen accountability across the healthcare supply chain.
The meeting was attended by Director Planning NHM J&K Yasir Latif Anbar, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer NHM J&K Vaneet Singh, General Manager JKMSCL, Financial Advisor and Chief Accounts Officer JKMSCL, State Nodal Officer NHM, Divisional Nodal Officer NHM Kashmir and other senior functionaries.
