Excelsior Correspondent
![Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal chairing the governing body meeting of NRHM on Monday.](http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/page3-128.jpg)
SRINAGAR, Aug 27 : Chief Secretary, Madhav Lal on Monday emphasized the need for effective implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) flagship programme to ensure universalization of health services in rural areas of the state.
Addressing the governing body meeting of NRHM, Chief Secretary called for close coordination and improvement in information flow at all levels in the Health Department for maximizing benefits and to achieve stipulated targets under the programme.
The governing body reviewed the status and functioning of the programme including the physical and financial progress achieved under the Annual Action Plan.
The meeting was told that Rs 312.54 Crore under NRHM was approved by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for the fiscal year 2012-13.
With a view to provide referral transport service to the patients for timely medicare during health emergencies and accidents a toll free telephone number 102 is being established in the state, the meeting was told. People can have easy access to an ambulance by dialing the toll free number. Chief Secretary in this regard directed for fitting all Ambulances across the state with GIS/GPS systems by December this year.
To strengthen the health institutions, Chief Secretary directed for fixing clear cut targets for upgradation of CHCs and PHCs to Mother and Child Health (MCH) centres/delivery points. He said that the executive committee of NRHM should periodically review the process of proposed upgradation. Out of the 2997 institutions, 522 health institutions are proposed to be upgraded to MCH centres in different levels during 2012-13.
Chief Secretary also directed for completing the process of opening of remaining bank accounts by September in respect of all the village health sanitation and nutrition committees. Joint Bank Accounts in respect of 6115 out of 6886 committees have already been opened so far. The governing body also discussed matters pertaining to availability and rationalization of Doctors, release of state share under NRHM, reconstitution of State Health Society, 3rd party monitoring, status of health infrastructure under NRHM and various other initiatives.
The meeting was attended by Principle Secretary Housing & Urban Development, Suresh Kumar, Commissioner Secretary PHE Irrigation & Flood Control, B. D. Sharma, Secretary Health and Medical Education, M. K. Diwedi, Principle GMC, Srinagar, Qazi Masood, Director NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Directors Health Services Kashmir and Jammu and other senior officer.