Srinagar, May 07: Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department Wednesday said that it is fully prepared to respond to any emergency, while enough stocks are available in hospitals.
Officials said that adequate stocks of medicines, medical supplies, and essential equipment have been ensured in hospitals, including those in rural and border areas.
A senior official from the H&ME Department told Rising Kashmir that the health infrastructure is on high alert and that contingency plans are in place.
“We are well-prepared, and everything is in place to deal with any eventuality. Adequate stocks of drugs and disposables are available across hospitals. The department is in full readiness,” the official said.
To bolster emergency response, J&K has pressed into service additional ambulances across the UT and these were earlier allocated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India, and have now been deployed across the region. Ambulances have also been strategically positioned in border districts witnessing cross-border shelling, to enable swift evacuation and treatment of casualties.
Officials further informed that directions have been issued to maintain sufficient stockpiles of essential medical supplies, ensure availability of doctors and paramedics, and keep the blood supply ready, especially in vulnerable and high-risk zones.
“Everything has been put in place to handle any potential casualties. We have sufficient supplies, ambulances, and trained staff. All required resources are stocked and ready for deployment,” the official added.
Emergency control rooms have been established in all major hospitals and healthcare facilities to facilitate coordination and enhance patient care during any crisis.
Government Medical College (GMC) Baramulla in north Kashmir has also set up a 24×7 control room at its associated hospital to ensure efficient emergency response and uninterrupted healthcare services.
Health officials added that tertiary care institutions, including medical colleges across Jammu and Kashmir, have also been further augmented given the prevailing situation.
Meanwhile, as a precautionary measure, hospitals in Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir on Wednesday painted Red Cross symbols on the rooftops of major hospital buildings. The move follows escalating Indo-Pak tensions after the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
