Srinagar, Oct 29(KNS): Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, Education, Sakeena Masood instructed the officers to ensure that the existing healthcare facilities are upgraded at all hospitals to meet the aspirations of people.

The Minister made these remarks while chairing a high level meeting to review the performance and functioning of Health and Medical Education (H&ME) department at Banquet Hall here.

Secretary H&ME, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah; Commissioner Food and Drugs Administration, CEO State Health Agency, Engineer in Chief J&K, Director SKIMS, Director Health Jammu/Kashmir, Director Coordination New Medical Colleges, MD NHM, Director AYUSH, MD JKMSCL, Secretary Technical H&ME, Director Finance H&ME, Director Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, State Drug Controller, Principals of all GMCs, Principal Dental College Srinagar, Principal Indira Gandhi Dental College Jammu and other senior officers of H&ME department attended the meeting.

During the meeting, the Minister had an in-depth assessment of department’s performance on ongoing initiatives and infrastructure projects aimed at improving healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir.

Addressing the officers, Sakeena Masood impressed upon the officers to ensure that healthcare facilities are upgraded as per the needs of people. She stressed upon the officers to maintain accountability and transparency within the department in order to meet the expectations of the people.

While reviewing the progress of works on various important projects, Sakeena Masood asked the officers to complete these projects timely as they will revolutionise the health sector here rather than starting any new projects. She instructed them to focus on maintaining quality of works as per the norms required in medical sector.

“Health and well-being of our people is top priority of our government”, Sakeena Itoo said, adding that we must work together to build a robust healthcare system that is accessible, efficient and responsive to the needs of our people. She advised both the Directors to organise IEC activities regarding 102 and 108 ambulance services as well as 104 helpline service, especially in rural areas, in order to generate maximum awareness among people.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel

She urged all officers and other relevant stakeholders to remain focused on delivering quality healthcare and addressing any challenges that may arise. She also asked all the Principals and both the Directors to decrease routine referrals from district and sub-district hospitals to Srinagar. She directed them to fix accountability on hospital administration referring regular patients to Srinagar rather than emergency cases.

While reviewing other aspects of health sector, the Minister called upon the officers to upgrade facilities at all District and Sub-district hospitals in order to reduce patient flow towards Srinagar hospitals. She called upon all the Principals and Directors to conduct audit of all testing facilities in their respective health institutions and also conduct routine check ups of private diagnostic and lab testing centres in order to address the issue of fixing rates.

She further directed them to establish a concrete mechanism in their respective healthcare facilities regarding checking of spurious drugs being sold there. She also asked them to conduct prescription audit and submit report of same within weeks time.

While reviewing Human Resource issues of the department, the Minister called upon the officers to refer all vacant posts to recruiting agencies immediately so that we have required staff and medical professionals across all healthcare institutes of J&K.

She directed the Secretary Health to frame a proper transfer policy and take stringent action against those seeking unjustified premature transfers. She also instructed the Secretary Health to cancel all attachments of doctors done in last few years and adjust them in areas have immediate need of doctors.

During the meeting, Secretary Health and Medical Education, gave a detailed presentation on the performance and functioning of department.(KNS).