IPHC norms benchmarks for creation of health facilities: Sakeena Itoo

Jammu, Mar 17: Asserting that Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) are broadly the benchmarks for creation and upgradation of health facilities in the country, the government on Monday said that health institutions across J&K will be dealt with as per the IPHS norms.
Replying to the question of MLA Baldev Raj Sharma, Health and Medical Education Department Minister Sakeena Itoo said, “The upgradation of any health institution will be taken under IPHC norms, if needed. These norms are broadly the bench marks. Earlier, IPHS 2012 were used and now IPHS 2022 norms are in vogue which is at present the broad document to be used for any future creation/up gradation of health institutions,” Itoo said.
Referring to the issue of Bhomag village, Itoo said that the village falls under Block Medical Officer Reasi and there is no such sanctioned post of the BMO Bhomag.
“Furthermore, no such office building for the office of BMO is being constructed there. However, a sub centre at Kothroo and Kroonkote is under construction,” she said.
“As per the IPHS standard there is no provision of any specialist doctor for PHCs. The PHC Tote is operational and adequately staffed with both medical and paramedical staff. At present there is one Medical Officer from AYUSH and four doctors deployed from Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) program for fieldwork, further strengthening the healthcare services in the area,” Sakina said, adding, “One doctor namely Dr. Pawan Kumar who was also posted in Tote has been selected for demonstratorship, in GMC Jammu.”
“Besides, 181 posts of Medical Officers are still to be received from Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission. Upon receiving the selections, the selected doctors will be posted at the health institutions experiencing staff shortages.”
“Additionally, 292 vacancies in the non-gazetted/paramedical category from the Directorate of Family Welfare, Maternity and Child Health (MCH), and Immunization and 290 vacancies in respect of Directorate of Health Services Jammu have also been referred to the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB),” she said.
Itoo added that CHC Katra is 30 bedded hospital functioning as SDH with five specialties and additional specialized services of sonologist and orthopedics while Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Naryana Super Specialty Hospital, is 8 Kms from CHC Katra and 28 Kms from District Hospital Reasi.
“Against 184(medical and paramedical) sanctioned posts, 107 are posted. Additional NHM staff of 105 (medical and paramedical) are posted in SMVD constituency. There are 39 health institutions functioning in SMVD constituency including 01-CHC, 02-PHCS, 05-NTPHCS & 31-Sub Centres,” she added. (KNO)