Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, July 19: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan today said that Government would bring all districts under the benefit of National Programme of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs), adding that at present such facility is being provided in six districts of the State three each in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions. He said in this regard the Union Health Ministry has agreed to provide funds and a detail proposal would be mooted soon to the Centre for approval.
This was stated by the Minister while reviewing the status of several healthcare schemes under implementation in Kashmir division at meeting of the officers of Health Services of Kashmir.
Special Secretary Health & Medical Education, Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Ab. Kabir, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Saleem-ur- Rahman, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, State Surveillance and Nodal Officer, NCD, Dr. Rihanna Kounsar were among other senior officers attended the meeting.
Mr. Shabir said presently this programme is under implementation in the districts of Kupwara, Kargil and Leh in Kashmir Province, where the patients having ailments of diabetes, malignancy, cardio-vascular disorders, cancer and hypertension gets free treatment facilities with the cent percent financial assistance of Central Government.
The Centre is funding the programs at district level to scan the patients with these diseases in the State, he said and added that during last two years the Centre has released Rs 5.84 crore against which Rs 4.08 crore have been incurred on the free treatment of different contagious diseases in these districts. He said under National Programme of Healthcare for Elderly Rs 2.06 crore expended on the different treatments in these districts.
He instructed the concerned authorities to formulate a detailed proposal soon and submit the same to Union Health Ministry for approval of funds, as the Ministry in principal has agreed to grant funds to launch this scheme to other high focused districts of the State.
Mr. Shabir asked the field functionaries of the department to carry out mass awareness especially in rural and remote areas about the precautionary measures of infectious diseases. He directed that surveys and tests of water borne diseases should be frequently made to avoid the out breaks of epidemic diseases like measles, food poisoning, influenza, mumps, chicken pox and enteric fever especially in remotest and slum areas.
The Minister also received detailed appraisal of the different health care activities from Director ISM and instructed the concerned functionaries to encourage people to avail this choice of treatment.
Mr. Shabir said the Government was keen to promote the Indian system of treatment in the State. He said in this regard 438 AYUSH medical officers have been engaged at PHCs. 160 posts of Ayurveda and Unani medical officers created by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts of Assistant surgeons besides 396 AYUSH Pharmacist have also been engaged under National Rural Health Mission at Primary Health Centers across the State.
Follow our WhatsApp channel