Excelsior Correspondent
NEW DELHI, Nov 1: Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma has appealed the Health Ministers of all the States for authorising the doctors to issue medical fitness certificates to Amarnath pilgrims and the proposal is endorsed by the Union Health Minister, Ghulam Nabi Azad.
The Health Minister said this while addressing the dignitaries at a two day meeting of State Health and Medical Education Ministers and Secretaries here today.
He said that allowing the pilgrims for tough yatra without a proper medical check up is a big risk to their lives and proves unsafe.
Mr Sharma also put forward the achievements of the State Health Department with special reference to the decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR).
He said, “the neonatal mortality rate in the State has been area of great concern. IMR has declined satisfactorily but a lot needs to be done to reduce the neonatal mortality rate so focus is being given on facility based and home based newborn care. IMR has come down by 1 point from 52 in 2006 to 41 in 2011 and is also better than the national average of 44.”
On strengthening of manpower, he said that 4592 additional doctors and paramedics have been engaged under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), with 49 specialists, 784 MBBS/ISM doctors and 3759 paramedics.
He said that remunerations of specialists, doctors and paramedics engaged on the contractual basis under NRHM has been enhanced by 20 percent. In the year 2012-13, remunerations of MBBS doctors has been increased from 19200 to 25000, he added.
He further disclosed that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has been reduced from 2.3 in 2006 to 2 in 2010 and the State has been able to cross the stipulated target of 2.1 by 2012 under NRHM.
On performance review, he said, “the Health Department and State Health Society have launched a website which gives the complete details to IPD, OPD, deliveries, surgeries, clinical examination etc. on monthly basis.”
The meeting was also attended by the Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, MK Dwivedi, Mission Director NRHM J&K, Dr Yashpal Sharma, Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr Saleem and Divisional Nodal Officer, Jammu Dr Harjet Rai.
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel