![Minister for Health, Ch Lal Singh inspecting construction work of MSC building at Nagrota on Friday. Minister for Health, Ch Lal Singh inspecting construction work of MSC building at Nagrota on Friday.](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/page7-116.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Ch Lal Singh has directed the Public Works Department to gear up their men and machinery to complete the Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation building at Nagrota by June this year.
He informed that funds to the tune of Rs. 6.30 crore have been released for the project.
The Minister said this after inspecting the ongoing construction work of the double storey building at Nagrota, here today. Director Health Services Jammu, Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Mission Director NHM Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Sharma, Chief Medical Officer besides other senior officers of Health Department accompanied the Minister.
Earlier, the Minister also reviewed the functioning of NHM and directed to reach out at grassroots level for better implementation of the programme which guarantees quality health care facilities to the people.
Ch Lal Singh stressed the need to focus on lessening the neonatal mortality by taking adequate steps and generating awareness. He directed the concerned HoDs to implement the flagship programmes in letter and spirit so that the benefits of the programme percolate down to the people. He said the Central and State Governments are providing adequate funding to improve the health infrastructure in the State and it is important to make optimum use of these resources.
The Minister also stressed on strict observance of the guidelines while implementing various components of the NHM.
Laying stress on achieving the targets, Ch Lal Singh directed to put in best efforts for the improvement of medical facilities in Government health institutions. He asked the doctors to work with missionary zeal and take all necessary measures to improve healthcare. He also stressed on strengthening the monitoring mechanism and plugging the loopholes, if any.
The Minister instructed to ensure that all under construction hospitals are completed within stipulated timeframe and directed timely submission of utilization certificates (UCs) to the Centre to facilitate free flow of funds. The delay in submission of UCs would be viewed seriously, he added.
Ch Lal Singh emphasized the need for easy access of people to the fleet of ambulances procured under NHM asking for making 102 Phone Number 102 operational so that people can have access hassle free ambulance service.
Expressing concern over the shortage of manpower, especially in the rural and far-flung areas, the Minister stressed the need for rationalization of staff strictly as per the work load of the institutions.
Ch Lal Singh stressed on discouraging the unnecessary referrals from rural hospitals to tertiary hospitals and called for equipping the district hospitals adequately to attend all types of patients except of serious nature which require specialized treatment in the tertiary centers. “The concerned doctors will have to give the reason for referring the particular patient to the higher institutions”, he maintained.
Later, the Minister visited State Health Transport Organization (SHTO) at Nagrota.