Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Asiea Naqash informed the House that Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has identified Anantnag, Baramulla, Doda, Rajouri and Kathua districts for setting up of New Medical Colleges.Replying to a question by Mr. Rajiv Jasrotia here today, the Minister said that land measuring 200 kanals each has been identified in these districts for the new Medical College and the same is being transferred to Health and Medical Education Department. She said the mutation of the land in revenue records is under process.The Minister said that other required formalities as advised by the Centre are being taken care of and once all formalities are completed the government would approach the Government of India for release of funds for early setting up of new medical colleges.
The Minister further informed that the Centre has also sanctioned two State Cancer Institutes, one each for SKIMS Srinagar and GMC Jammu at a cost of Rs. 120 crore. She said Rs 47.20 crore have so far been received from the Centre for the Cancer Centre at SKIMS.The Minister said that 3 tertiary care centres at Udhampur, Kishtwar and Kupwara have also been sanctioned by Union Health Ministry at a cost of Rs 45 crore each to provide advanced treatment to the Cancer patients of the State. She said MOU has been signed by the State Government and the project has been forwarded to the Centre for funding.The Minister informed that against the revised estimated cost of Rs. 44411.07 lakh an amount of Rs 14803.52 lakh has been expended on various hospital projects in the State under various schemes ending last financial year. She said Rs 12743.87 lakh is the capex outlay for current fiscal for these projects.
She further said under NABARD, Rs 2528.70 lakh have been sanctioned for 16 health projects against which Rs 758.71 lakh mobilization advance was released so far. She said that Rs 1400 lakh have been approved for maternity hospitals Srinagar and Jammu during current fiscal under NHM besides Rs 8093.73 lakh were also approved under NHM for various health projects in the State during current fiscal.
The Minister informed that during current fiscal Rs 1.99 crore is being expended on construction of SDH Parole, PHC buildings Kharote and Barwal in Kathua district under NHM and NABARD.The Health Minister, Choudhary Lal Singh while responding to the supplementaries by Legislators Shah Mohammad Tantray, Mr. Aijaz Ahmed Mir, Mohammad Khalil Bandh, Advocate Bashir Ahmed Dar, Er Abdul Rashid and Mr Dina Nath Bhagat said that concerted efforts are being made to improve and upgrade healthcare facilities across the State. He said focused attention is being given to equip the health institutions with modern diagnostic gadgets besides completion of ongoing health projects.Choudhary Lal Singh said that the vacant posts of medicos and para-medicos have been referred to concerned recruitment agencies for selection adding that all the vacant posts in the department are being filled up on fast-track basis. He said that all the DDB decisions taken for upgradation of health care facilities in the districts are being implemented in letter and spirit. He assured the legislators that equal attention would be given to all the constituencies in the upgradation of healthcare facilities.