Deptt focusing on strengthening existing healthcare facilities: Health Minister

Jammu, Feb 19: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakeena Itoo, Thursday informed the House that the department is presently focusing on consolidation and strengthening of the existing healthcare facilities broadly as per IPHS-2022 norms to improve the healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Health Minister stated this in reply to a question raised by Legislator Altaf Ahmad Wani (Kaloo) in the Legislative Assembly.
The Minister said that as per IPHS norms 2022 districts with less than 5 lakh population with a functional District Hospital (DH) do not need a Sub District Hospital (SDH, districts with populations between 5-10 lakh can have one SDH and thereafter, one SDH for every 10-lakh population can be considered for the provision of comprehensive secondary care health services.
She added that, as per this criteria, district having a population upto 20 lakh can have one DH and two SDHs, whereas each district of J&K has more SDHs than the admissibility as per IPHS-2022.
The Health Minister further said that the department has accorded sanction for up-gradation of NTPHC Pahalgam to the level of 50 bedded Hospital along with creation of 26 posts of different categories. She added that against the sanctioned strength of 38 posts, 17 posts of doctors and para-medics have been filled up, which included 03 Consultants, 01 Medical Officer and 01 Dental Surgeon.
The Minister also said that efforts are afoot for filling up of vacancies through recruiting agency besides ensuring promotions. She added that during the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, availability of doctors, paramedics and other support staff is significantly enhanced as per actual requirement.
She further said that the construction of 50-bedded block at Pahalgam Hospital is steadily progressing. She added that an additional block for the hospital is under construction at a cost of Rs 1889.90 lakh against which Rs 1100.00 lakh expenditure has been incurred.
She said that during the current financial year 2025-26, an amount of Rs 340.00 lakh has been released to the executing agency out of approved allocation of Rs 400.00 lakh. Besides, additional funding is also approved under SASCI to speed up the pace of work.
“Truss work is complete and finishing works are in progress. The equipment shall also be made available in a phased manner in line with requirements of the hospital within budgetary resources”, she said.
Giving further details,, the Minister said that the department is not considering establishment of Trauma Hospital between Qazigund and Pahalgam, as these institutions require specialised manpower and other allied support staff besides high end equipment and modular operation theatres. She added that two Trauma Care facilities, Trauma Hospital Qazigund and Trauma Centre at Government Medical College Anantnag, are available en-route Qazigund and Pahalgam to meet the trauma related and other healthcare requirements. She said that Trauma Hospital Bijbehara, 4 km away from Khanabal-Pahalgam-Qazigund road, is also available.
During the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, the Health Minister said that health camps are being established to provide medical facilities to the pilgrims. These included augmenting hospital men, machinery and ambulance services in the existing health institutions like PHC Mattan (additional block under construction), SDH Seer Hamdan, PHC Aishmuqam and 50-bedded Hospital Pahalgam.
She apprised the House that PHC Aishmuqam has already been made operational on 24×7 basis to cater to the medical needs of devotees visiting Ziyarat of Sakhie Zain-U-Din Wali (RA) Aishmuqam.