Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 15: With a view to upgrade health infrastructure, the construction of 194 hospital buildings at an estimated cost of Rs 838.51 crore is apace in Kashmir Division, against which an amount of Rs 413.39 crore have been expended up to last financial year.
Of these, work on 25 hospital complexes have been completed and made functional, while the work on other hospital buildings are at different stages of completion and would be completed within stipulated time frame.
This information was given out at a high level officers meeting of Health Department held under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan.
The meeting was convened to review the physical and financial status of various ongoing schemes under NRHM and State plans in Kashmir Province.
Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Shaleen Kabra, Director Indian System Medicines, Dr Ab Kabir Dar, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Project Director State AIDS Control Society, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Controller Drug and Food Organization, Satish Gupta, Joint Director Planning Health and Medical Education, Deputy Directors Health Services, CMOs’ , Medical Superintendents of District hospitals and District Officers ISM attended the meeting.
The meeting also reviewed status of implementation of NRHM components, health care arrangements for Amaranth Ji yatra via Pahalgam and Baltal, installation of solar plants in hospitals, biomedical waste management treatment plants of Srinagar and Budgam Districts, installation of incinerators at Leh and Kargil, essential drugs and supplies in various hospitals, construction of Mother Child Hospitals at Kulgam, Anantnag, Sopore, Kupwara and Noor Bagh, operationalization of 102 ambulance services, establishment of control rooms and vehicle tracking system, inspection of nursing homes, Labs and USG Clinics, 24×7 PHCs’ services and other important issues related to the smooth functioning of the hospitals.
Speaking at the meeting, the Minister asked the concerned authorities for bringing in more reforms in the Department to infuse efficiency, transparency and above all a qualitative change in the patient care in the hospitals. He said improvement of services in terms of patient care, medication and other facilities at hospitals is as important as strengthening basic infrastructure.
The Minister said that providing modern health care facilities to the people of the State tops the agenda of the Government. He said infrastructure up gradation especially in rural areas have been already initiated in the State under flagship programme NRHM and State plan. “There was no paucity of funds to complete the ongoing health projects but only need is proper monitoring”, he said and instructed Chief Medical Officers and District Monitors to keep close vigil on the works being carried out in their districts. He called for frequent inspections of hospitals to ensure that no patient faces any in convenience while getting treatment.
Shabir asked the Health Department to work hard to maintain the No. 1 position it has obtained in health care sector last year.
He said the Government would not tolerate corruption in the key department meant for serving people in distress
“Any official found involved in any malpractice or corruption will be dealt strictly under law. No salary will be credited to his account. Dress code has to be implemented”, said Khan
He directed CMOs and BMOs and Medical Superintendents to be present at the respective places of posting with punctuality. “Anybody having to leave his station should get prior permission from the competent authorities”, he said.
Follow our WhatsApp channel