Srinagar – Taking serious note of certain discrepancies in district Budgam and inefficient functioning, Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Mr. Sham Lal Sharma, today attached Chief Medical Officer, Budgam with the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir till further orders.
While reviewing the functioning of health department in Kashmir Valley at a meeting of senior officers held here today under his chairmanship, the Minister seriously viewed certain administrative lapses in Budgam district and ordered attachment of the CMO with immediate effect. He said that Government was committed to ensure transparency and accountability at different level in the health department in the interest of patient care and everyone must discharge their duties efficiently.
Maintaining that health is the core area of Government and during the past over three and half years several reformative measures have been taken to improve the health scenario across the State. He directed for implementation of all flagship schemes of Central Government in letter and spirit so that the benefits of these programmes reach to the needy. He impressed upon the Chief/Block Medical Officers to enhance their field visits and improve monitoring mechanism to achieve better results.
Expressing concern over the substantial rise in the cancer patients and other serious ailments, the Minister stressed the need for stepping up efforts to detect the cause of such diseases. He directed for launching massive awareness campaign to educate the masses about such diseases and their preventive measures across the valley. He suggested developing a strong data base for cancer patients in all districts of valley so that Government could extend necessary assistance to them. He stressed for greater involvement of Panchayat functionaries in this noble task.
In order to deal with the patients of cataract and eye diseases, the Minister directed to devise a long-run strategy to deal with this sensitive problem in a phased manner. To begin with, the Department will carry out a special screening of such patients in Ganderbal district and make it the cataract-free zone. Similarly, the Department will launch special drive of free health check up of school children in all the schools of the valley. The drive will include proper health check up of school children in the age group of 8-15 years with special focus on eyes and dental. The Department will provide free medicines and specs to the needy children, the meeting decided.
While reviewing the performance of AYUSH sector, the Minister said that Government has already initiated several measures to promote this department and efforts are afoot to further strengthen its activities. He asked the AYUSH doctors to maintain their own identity and prescribe only AYUSH medicines.
He directed the Director Health Services to provide adequate separate space to the AYUSH doctors in the health institutions to promote the AYUSH as per the Government policy.
Commissioner/Secretary Health & Medical Education, Mr. Manoj K. Dwivedi gave resume of the functioning of various wings of the health department. He informed that the department has taken several steps to improve the health facilities in the health institutions across the Valley. He said indicators are upward and everyone has been made accountable to ensure transparency at individual level.
Director Indian System of Medicines, Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar and Director Health Services, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman also briefed the Minister about the activities of their departments.
Director Family Welfare, Dr. T.K.Moza, Project Director J&K AIDS Control Society, Dr. Rakesh Khajuria, CMOs/BMOs and Medical Superintendents were present in the meeting.
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