Govt working tirelessly to augment, expand healthcare network in JK

Srinagar, May 12: Jammu and Kashmir government is working tirelessly to augment and expand healthcare network in the Union Territory so that the ailing populace is facilitated with best medicare at their doorsteps.
Abrogation of Article 370 from the erstwhile state further accelerated the growth and development scenario in J&K with complete implementation of several revolutionary policies and interventions in the Union Territory.
The J&K administration is focusing special attention on three areas ‘Prevention, Better Treatment and Care’ besides ensuring several incentives for poor patients of the UT. In his regard, seven new medical colleges, two AIIMS, nearly 1000 healthcare and wellness centres, five new nursing colleges have been established in J&K besides introducing BSc paramedical courses and increasing medical seats by almost more than 100 percent.
The focus of the government is not only on creation of best of the best private hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar but also on strengthening hospitals in districts and other remote areas.
The UT administration launched J&K Health Care Investment Policy (HCIP) to encourage private players to set up healthcare infrastructure in the Union Territory.
This Healthcare Investment Policy aims to materialize the UT government’s commitment of providing quality healthcare to its citizens at their door steps. Besides, the document ensures availability of complete gamut of healthcare services in primary, secondary and tertiary care centers to people of the UT.
Meanwhile, the new Unani Medical College and Hospital has been set up with a cost of Rs 32.50 crore at Ganderbal with financial assistance of Rs 17 crore from the Ministry of Ayush under Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Rs 18.25 crore from the J&K government and Rs 38.82 lakh under National AYUSH Mission to make the college operational. The college has an intake capacity of 60 students in BUMS course besides having hospital of 60 bedded facilities.
Notably, AYUSH ministry has sanctioned several other projects in J&K under National AYUSH Mission and erstwhile centrally sponsored schemes including a Government Ayurvedic Medical College at Akhnoor, five 50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals in the districts of Kupwara, Kulgam, Kishtwar, Kathua and Samba besides upgrading existing infrastructure of 35 standalone Ayush dispensaries and promoting 571 Ayush dispensaries as health and wellness centres in a phased manner under the flagship programme of Ayushman Bharat by 2023-24.
Speaking on transformation taking place in health sector of J&K, Lieutenant Governor said that the government is introducing new reforms for developing a balanced healthcare ecosystem that promotes social equality besides ensuring easily accessible quality health facilities for all.
“This important stride in the healthcare sector truly symbolizes PM Narendra Modi’s vision of self-reliance, achieving excellence in modern health facilities for remote locations and reducing the urban-rural divide to deliver services at people’s doorsteps”, added the LG.
LG maintained that ‘Our efforts of reforming the healthcare sector have been impressive. We have addressed the health infrastructure issues with a comprehensive and long term national vision under the guidance of Prime Minister and even the far-flung areas now have adequate, affordable and reliable healthcare facilities’.
Jammu and Kashmir has one of the highest budget allocations in the country. Some of the worth mentioning health infrastructure projects included two new AIIMS with a project cost of Rs 4000 crore one each at Jammu and Kashmir division. Besides, seven new Government Medical Colleges are being established with a total cost of Rs 1595 crore, ten new Nursing Colleges with an approximate cost of Rs. 60 crore and 5 nursing colleges have been upgraded. Similarly, two State Cancer institutes worth Rs 240 crore are coming up one each at Jammu and Kashmir division and 274 projects under CAPEX are being carried out to create unparalleled healthcare infrastructure.
Under AB PMJAY SEHAT scheme in convergence with Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), nearly 55.56 lakh beneficiaries have already been registered. Besides, 1,592 medical packages, as approved under AB-PMJAY, are accessible to the beneficiaries of Jammu and Kashmir SEHAT scheme.