Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 3: Appreciating the members for identifying and suggesting the areas where measures are required to be taken to improve the health care system in the State, the Minister of State for Health Shabir Ahmad Khan said that priority of the Government is to open new health institutions in rural and far flung areas for the benefit of the people.
He was replying to the discussion on the working of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education in Legislative Council today.
The Minister said that the steps taken at various levels for improving the health care system will yield good results. He said under NRHM programme Rs. 863 crore are being spent on health related infrastructure development in the State while Rs. 20 crore have been spent on the construction of two Unani Hospitals at Srinagar and Jammu. He said the new Drug Policy will be implemented from this year.
He said Rs. 10 lakh have been allocated to Panchayat Raj Institutions for sanitation purposes. Mr Shabir said that e-tendering has been introduced in the department for procurement of health related equipment, machines and medicines.
Regarding establishment of Nursing Council, the Minister said SRO stands already issued while rules are being framed. He said transfer policy will be made more effective and as per the policy the doctors will have to serve for 7 years in their home town.
Regarding male female ratio, the Minister said the prevailing rate in the state is quite satisfactory. He said religious leaders have also been involved in the matter besides implementation of law for determination of sex has been made more stringent and the award for informer has been increased to Rs.50000.
He said that steps have already been initiated to set up Trauma Hospitals across the State at selective locations. He said OPD time has been extended and now doctors have been asked to examine the patients up to 2 PM which was earlier 1 PM. He said under NRHM 4817 doctors and para-medical staff has been engaged apart from opening of new 56 PHCs.
The Minister said that in neonatal cases the death rate in our State is low compared to other States of the country. He said 220 bed capacity additional complex has been constructed at LD Hospital Srinagar while 200 bed facility has been added at Jammu.
He said that the deficiency of posts at District Hospital Anantnag will be removed shortly and necessary steps will be taken for upgradation of PHE Trehgam in Kupwara.
Earlier, the members who took part in the discussion on the working of the Health and Medical Education Ministries included Dr. B. A. Veeri, Dr. Shehnaz Ganai, Naresh Kumar Gupta, Mr. Abdul Majid Bhat, Showkat Hussain, Aga Syed Ahmed Rizvi, Subash Chander Gupta, Khalid Najeeb Suharwardhy, Jugal Kishore, G. N. Monga, Syed Mohammad Rafiq Shah,
Jehangir Hussain Mir, Sheikh Ghulam Rasool and Ravinder Kumar Sharma.
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