Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 10: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo, today informed the House that the Government is upgrading the existing healthcare infrastructure and facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.
The Minister said this while replying to a starred question raised by Shagun Parihar in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister said that, at present, the District Hospital Kishtwar is functioning as 100 bedded Hospital and an additional 100 bedded Hospital building is under construction adjoining to the existing IPD Block of the DH Kishtwar.
While speaking on Traumatic Centre facility in DH Kashmir, the Minister said that a Designated Trauma Care Centre nearest to Kishtwar is situated at Thathri at a distance of 30 Km. She informed that all the trauma cases are being handled by the Emergency Room of DH Kishtwar where all specialist Doctors like Surgeons, Ortho, Anaesthetists and Physician and ample number of Medical Officers and Para-medics are posted for handling the emergencies 24X7.
The Minister further informed the house that currently DH Kishtwar has 11 consultants, 8 medical officers and 2 dental surgeons for the patients besides other paramedical staff.
The Minister remarked that the department has fast tracked the recruitment process of doctor and medical professionals. She highlighted that in the month of November 2024, 365 selectees were appointed as Medical Officers in the J&K Health & Family Welfare (Gazetted) Services, who have been posted in the far-flung/peripheral healthcare facilities to strengthen the medical facilities at the grassroots level.
She also informed that the department is also in the process of operating a waitlist in respect of 91 selected Medical Officers, whose services will also be utilized in the under-served areas across the UT of J&K.
Moreover, the Minister informed that 181 posts of Medical Officers are still to be received from Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission and upon receiving these selections, the selected doctors will be posted in the health institutions experiencing staff shortages.
Sakeena affirmed Government’s commitment towards strengthening the existing health infrastructure and filling up of all vacancies in the health sector.
The Minister was replying to a question raised by Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Mir in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister informed that J&K is one of the top runners among the large States/UTs (with population more than 1 crore) in health institution density in the country. She informed that the report published in 2023 by MoHFW, Gol, indicates that J&K has health institution on every 3500 souls against an average 6000 souls at national level. Moreover, the feasibility for up-gradation and establishment of new ones are examined in terms of IPHS-2022 norms.
Referring to the healthcare services in Rajpora constituency, the Minister informed that out of a total of 34 health facilities 31 have been upgraded to Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAMs) to provide improved packages of services to the local population.
She said that the CHC Rajpora, which is in proximity to District Hospital Pulwama (11 km), is already catering to secondary-level healthcare services to the residents of the area.
Regarding the manpower, the Minister informed that the CHC Rajpora has sanctioned strength of 7 specialists, 12 Medical Officers, and 54 paramedical staff.
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