Jahangeer Ganaie
Srinagar, Mar 19: The Jammu and Kashmir government has developed a robust mechanism to ensure affordable and easy access to healthcare services at doorsteps through various platforms, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Assembly on Wednesday.
Responding to a question from MLA Ajaz Jan, Itoo, said the government is committed to strengthening healthcare by improving infrastructure, ensuring manpower availability and upgrading medical equipment. She said the focus remains on maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases and preparing for future health challenges in line with IPHS and NMC norms.
Highlighting key projects in Poonch Haveli Constituency, Itoo said Critical Care Block (CCB): A CCB is under construction at District Hospital Poonch at a cost of Rs 23.75 crore under the PM-ABHIM scheme. “One DIPHL lab at DH Poonch and Block Public Health Units at PHC Loran, PHC Chandak, and PHC Bandchechian are being developed. The construction of SC Kanuyian has been completed under the National Health Mission. and under District Capex, 10 projects are in progress, with six already completed. Under UT Capex, one project is complete, and another is at the finishing stage,” she said, adding that an NTPHC building in Galipindi has also been completed.
At present, 61 healthcare institutions are operational in Poonch Haveli. However, no further upgrades or new projects are planned due to austerity measures imposed by the Finance Department under Government Order No. 10-F of 2025, the minister said.
She said that during 2024-25, Rs 59.52 lakh was allocated for 14 healthcare projects under various schemes, including UT Capex, District Capex and PMAAGY.
The health minister said the region is equipped with 719 medical machines and devices, including 1 CT Scan, 3 Anesthesia Units, 17 Ventilators, 6 Dialysis Machines, 8 X-ray Machines, 3 USG Machines and 4 Dental Units. Any pending equipment requirements will be addressed based on the availability of resources, she added.
The government has also implemented Telemedicine and e-Sanjeevani platforms to enhance healthcare accessibility. Notably, Poonch district, including Poonch Haveli, has achieved 100% family coverage under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY, with all 35,325 families in the constituency having at least one member holding an Ayushman Bharat Golden Card, Itoo said.
She said the Operation Theatre at CHC Mandi is currently operational through an internal arrangement, with a consultant surgeon and anaesthetist from DH Poonch deployed twice a week. However, posts for Consultant Anesthetist, Consultant Surgeon, and Consultant Gynecologist remain vacant at SDH Mandi.
The minister assured that recruitment agencies are in the process of filling these vacancies, and efforts will be made to prioritise them once selections are finalized. (KNO)
