Jammu, Mar 23: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo today held a detailed review of infrastructure and services upgradation in health sector across all districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting thoroughly analysed the action taken upon progress on key construction projects, introduction of specialization courses like MD/MS, DM/MCH, and DNB, increase of 50 MBBS seats in new medical colleges, status of faculty recruitment besides addressing the challenge of shortage of doctors in remote areas along with reviewing the action plan for strengthening tertiary care services in all the newly established GMCs.
During the meeting, the Chief Secretary impressed upon the Principals of new GMCs to create an augmentation plan of their own to reduce the referrals from these health institutions. He asked them to detail the existing resources for making a comprehensive strategy to enhance the capacity of their medics in coordination with SKIMS and GMCs of Srinagar and Jammu.
He stressed on taking swift measures to augment critical care services to save lives of the patients by making timely interventions. He impressed upon them to receive the requisite handholding from the SKIMS or GMC Jammu/Srinagar with respect to training of staff besides acquiring the small equipments, necessary consumables to deal with such emergencies.
The Chief Secretary further enquired from each Principal of the medical college about the new specialized courses like MD/MS,DM/MCH, and DNB they had made applications for as per past directions.
He stressed on securing the requisite faculty. He urged them to fill all the entry level posts besides taking steps like hiring of staff on academic arrangement where no feasible candidates are available to fill higher positions of Professors and Associate Professors.
During the meeting it was also revealed that three-member NMC Coordination Cell has been established under the Chairmanship of the Secretary Technical, H&ME Department to iron out any issues faced by colleges in this pursuit.
The meeting also discussed the pace and progress on the balance works of New Medical Colleges at Kathua, Doda, Anantnag, Baramulla setting deadline for each of them.
GMC Udhampur is set for completion by July 2025, with 75% of the work already finished. The progress on relocation of GMC, Handwara to some feasible site was also taken appraisal of. It was said that the relocation is in the final stage.
To tackle the shortage of doctors in underserved areas, the government is launching several initiatives including providing special hardship allowances, non-practicing allowance to attract medical professionals to remote locations besides fast-tracking the recruitment of medical officers.
