Srinagar, Feb 24: The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is set to virtually lay the foundation stone for 13 projects (Critical Care Blocks) and six food testing vans in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday, according to officials.
These projects consist of seven Critical Care Blocks under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) valued at Rs 207.75 crore, and six similar projects under the Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package (ECRP) amounting to Rs 142.5 crore bringing the total investment to 350.25 crore.
Officials said all the arrangements have been made in J&K as the PM will dedicate the projects to hospitals and medical colleges across the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
The seven projects that would be dedicated to seven districts include 100 bedded critical Care Block at District Hospital in Budgam, 100 bedded Critical Care Block at GMC in Jammu, 50 bedded Critical Care Blocks each at District Hospital Kulgam, GMC Baramulla, GMC Rajouri, GMC Kathua and SKIMS Medical College Srinagar.
Notably, the Prime Minister launched the PM-ABHIM on 25 October, 2021 to accomplish the vision of accessible and comprehensive healthcare across the country.
Medical Superintendent, GMC Baramulla, Dr Parvaiz Masoodi said the critical care facility will benefit entire northern Kashmir, especially district Baramulla.
“This facility will be well equipped with all modern gadgets and logistics. The critical care facility will boost the level of patient care at tertiary care,” he said.
Masoodi expected that the medical college’s Critical Care Block will get the best manpower to handle the critical care patients in the border district that often sees emergencies.
Similarly, as per officials, the six other similar projects would be dedicated to six districts in Jammu and Kashmir under the Emergency Response & Health System Preparedness Package for the management of critical care services.
These projects include 50 bedded Critical Care Blocks one each at District Hospital Pulwama, DH Kupwara, DH Reasi, DH Poonch, DH Shopian and PHC Sonamargh.
The ECRP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector components. It aims to accelerate health system preparedness for immediate responsiveness for early prevention, detection and management, with a focus on health infrastructure development.
The Prime Minister will also dedicate six Food Testing Vans costing Rs 2.63 crore to cater districts of Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Srinagar Bandipora, Pulwama besides Districts of Samba, Reasi, Ganderbal and Shopian. The Mobile Food Testing Vans would be dedicated under FSSAI under the ambit Food Safety on wheels.
Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government, Health & Medical Education Department, J&K chaired a meeting on 22 Feb to review the preparations for laying of foundation stone/inauguration of various Health Projects.
