Secretary reviews functioning of health sector in Kashmir

Jammu, Oct 7: Secretary, Health and Medical Education (H&ME), Bhupinder Kumar, Friday chaired a meeting at Civil Secretariat here to review functioning of health sector in Kashmir division.
During the meeting, various key performance health indicators were discussed threadbare and all the Chief Medical Officers, Medical Superintendents of Kashmir division were directed to improve the public health delivery system in a holistic manner.
Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad Rather, gave a brief presentation on achievements and bottlenecks besides highlighting measures towards ensuring better public health delivery.
Secretary was apprised of various schemes and programs undertaken by the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir.
Secretary emphasized the need for devising a comprehensive healthcare delivery system wherein all the services such as preventive, diagnostic and curative services are provided to the needy so that out of pocket health expenditure is minimized.
Secretary directed the officers for extending drug dispensing under Health Management Information System/e-Aushadhi Up to Sub Centre Level besides effectively implementing all the components of the system across health institutions of the UT. He further directed the concerned to ensure that necessary training is imparted to doctors and nurses on palliative and geriatric care from all the districts.
Regarding quality healthcare services, Secretary directed the officers to identify more such institutions which can apply for National Quality Assurance Standard Certification. He impressed upon them to utilize the approved funds for the infrastructure to the maximum besides ensuring follow up of DPRs of NABARD with the concerned District Development Commissioners.
Among others the meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officers and Medical Superintendents Kashmir division.
Secretary appreciated Health department Kashmir for their excellent role during Shri Amarnathji Yatra, Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Mental health programs and IEC activities being run by department of Health.
While reviewing the functioning of National dialysis programme, Secretary expressed his dismay over less number of dialysis sessions being undertaken despite having good number of machines available and directed for improvement in the functioning of this programme for the benefit of patients.
He asked the chief medical officers to further improve their performance. He further laid stress on increasing availability of Jan Aushudi drugs at hospitals and stressed for increasing sales of these drugs in government hospitals. He said people must be made aware about the benefits of these affordable and quality medicines.