New Delhi, Aug 01: Jammu and Kashmir National Conference Member of the Parliament Hasnain Masoodi on Tuesday met Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dr Mansukh Mandavya and highlighted the “grave problems of manpower crisis and medical equipment deficiency confronting the healthcare system” in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a party statement, Masoodi said, “While confidence in the public healthcare system has increased over the years, there has not been corresponding increase in manpower and diagnostic and other medical equipment and adequate steps were not being to fill up even sanctioned vacancies. While the number of beds in SKIMS, the main territory healthcare facility in Kashmir, has increased from 250 to 1250 yet the number of doctors, consultants, specialists and above all Paramedics has not witnessed a corresponding increase.”
He added, “The district hospitals in Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian with outpatient numbers exceeding half a million per year are ill-equipped to provide adequate medical care and face acute shortage of doctors, consultants and paramedics.”
Masoodi demanded sanction of MRI and PET scans for MAB District Hospital and an adequate number of doctors and consultants for SDH Shangus and the upgradation of PHC Khrew to CHC to meet challenges of the increasing number of pulmonary and cardiac patients in the area due to the high levels of dust pollution and industrial emissions, the statement said, adding that he also raised the issue of “grave injustice being done by NBMES to the FMGE candidates” who appeared in the FMGE at Tripura centre and were declared successful.
“The minister assured him that justice will be done to the candidates,” Masoodi said.
