Neeraj Rohmetra
JAMMU, Feb 21: In a major initiative aimed at improving healthcare services in the State, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Ghulam Nabi Azad has sanctioned funds for procurement of 200 new ambulances for Jammu and Kashmir.
Besides, the Health Ministry has also provided nearly Rs 12 crore for purchase of latest equipment for District Hospital Doda and Sub-District Hospital Bhaderwah under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM).
The decision was taken after the State Health Minister; Shabir Ahmad Khan expressed urgent need for these ambulances in a high level meeting in New Delhi to improve health services in the State.
While giving sanction for Rs 14 crore for procurement of these ambulances, Mr Azad directed for rational deployment of the newly sanctioned ambulances in far off and accident prone areas as per need and requirement.
“I hope that the newly sanctioned ambulances will be procured by the State Government efficiently and expeditiously so that they are made available to the people by next month. With 200 new ambulances in its stock, the State must try to operationalize 102 ambulances service at the earliest as that will facilitate smooth transfer of patients, particularly pregnant women and trauma cases, to the nearest health facility without any delay,” Mr Azad said.
Sources stated that the existing fleets of ambulances in State were either inadequate or outmoded. With the result, patients suffering from different ailments, who were in need of referral to health facilities, faced lot of hassles and hardships.
“The decision assumed great significance in a hilly State like Jammu and Kashmir, where the graph of people dying due to accidents is on the rise and therefore, the need for new ambulances was being persistently felt”, sources asserted.
Dwelling over the sanction accorded to nearly Rs 12 crore under NRHM, the Union Minister said, “the funds have been earmarked for purchase of latest equipment to District Hospital, Doda and Sub- District Hospital, Bhaderwah. The concerned departments can purchase the equipment like CT Scan, Ventilators, Operating Surgical Laparoscope, Ultrasound Machine, Anesthesia Machine and Operation Table (Hydraulic with Remote Control)”.
The Union Minister also assured the State Health Minister, Shabir Khan that the demand of equipments for other hospitals will also be considered in due course as per feasibility and availability of resources during the next financial year.
Confirming the meeting and release of funds for the State, Minister for Health Shabir Khan told EXCELSIOR that he had apprised the Union Minister of urgent medicare needs and requirements of people of the State especially those living in far off and hilly parts.
While pleading the case of State for better health care network in State, the State Health Minister said, “we asked for opening of at least 100 new Sub-centres in far off and hilly pockets of the State this year as no such centre had been granted for the past some time. We actually need as many as 700 of them across the State and the total expense of the same would be around Rs 3.5 crore”, he said adding, “the motive is to make the health care services accessible to residents of the State. The objective is that people suffering from ailments should have health care available within one hour of travel time”.
The State Health Minister said, “we have also projected requirement of Referral Transport and Vehicle Tracking and Management system, which will be fitted with inbuilt health equipment along with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices and the total cost involved is nearly Rs 2 crore. These Vehicles will be monitored by two Control Rooms – one each in Jammu and Srinagar”, adding, “in case of an eventuality the ambulance located in the vicinity would be immediately redirected to move to the place, where untoward incident has taken place”.
Mr. Khan also demanded construction of two drug houses one each for Jammu and Kashmir division. He also submitted a plan proposal worth Rs. 14 crore to the Union Minister containing health care facilities for Amarnath Ji Yatris during this year’s yatra.
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