Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh today said the Government is keen to encourage the treatment with the Indian System of Medicines (ISM) in the state.This was stated by the Minister while addressing a review meeting of officers of ISM at Directorate office in Indira Chowk, here today.The Minister said in this regard 417 stand alone ISM dispensaries, 21 Homeopathic OPDs and 25 AMCHI OPDs, one Unani Hospital, 34 AYUSH Units are functional in two Government Medical Colleges, 22 District Hospitals, 10 Community Health Centers, and 56 dispensaries are functional on internal arrangements across the State. He said the Government is making all out efforts to filling up of vacant posts under the ISM department through PSC and SSRB.Choudhary Lal Singh informed that vacancies of Medical Officers of Ayurvedic and Unani, Staff of ADMO office in newly created eight districts, 14 vacancies of nursing orderlies have been referred to the concerned recruiting agencies for filling up of these posts on fast track basis.The Minister directed the concerned officers to post doctors and paramedics from the institutions where excess staff worked to the less staff institutions for the smooth run of the less staff institutions.
Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, Director General ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar besides other senior officers of Jammu province attended the meeting.Choudhary Lal Singh informed that Government has sanctioned Rs. R. 25.80 crore for construction of Government Ayurvedic Medical College at Sangani in Akhnoor, Rs. 32.50 crore for Government Unani Medical College at Nawabagh Ganderbal and Rs. 7.50 crore for 50-bedded Integrated Ayurvedic Yoga, Unani and Homeopathy (Ayush) Hospital at Harwan. He informed that Government of India has released Rs. 39.56 crore and the balance amount of Rs. 26.24 crore of State share is yet to be released. He said the hospitals have under progress on war-footing and would be completed within stipulated time frame.The Minister received detailed appraisal of the different health care activities from Director General ISM and instructed the concerned functionaries to sensitize the people for availing this choice of treatment. He said the Government had set up ISM health centers in every nook and corner of the State upto district level hospitals, PHCs, sub-centres besides dispensaries, where free of cost medicines and other related facilities had been made available to needy patients.
Choudhary Lal Singh emphasized upon the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment facilities for people at the ISM hospitals, adding that it should be strictly ensured that patients got free of cost medicines and other health care facilities in these hospitals.While reviewing the physical and financial achievements of Drug and Food Organization, the Minister asked the field functionaries of the ISM organization to ensure that no drug sub-outlets are operative on proxy basis anywhere in the State and ordered that drug shops should only run by license holders issued by the competent authority of the organization “It is matter of health care and we have to ensure that drugs only sold by trained pharmacists having requisite certificates and license from the Organization”, he instructed.
Choudhary Lal Singh directed field functionaries to keep close vigil on sale of spurious drugs in the markets especially in rural drug shops where such practices are more common to play with the health of innocent patients. “Spurious drugs and proxy drug outlets should be seized and guilty persons should be booked under the Act”, he cautioned the officers.The Minister said that ISM is an important organization related with the health of the people and Government would bring more transparency and accountability in the functioning of the organization. “It’s working is being reviewed on monthly basis, besides several new initiatives have been taken to strengthen the organization”, he said and directed concerned to refer the vacant posts to recruiting agencies for selection soon. He said that refresher courses should be also organized for the officials of the organization where drug and food experts acquaint them with latest trends of working.
Choudhary Lal Singh also stressed on lifting of samples of variety edibles in the markets for testing to ensure that no adulteration is made in them which harms the health of the people. He directed that such manufacturers and shopkeepers should be fined and booked, adding that their units should be sealed and licenses canceled under the law.Later, Director General, ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir gave detailed resume of physical and financial achievements registered by the department towards promotion of ISM treatment in the State. He also projected the issues for further strengthening the functioning of the ISM department included Change of Nomenclature of ISM dispensaries as PHC AYUSH, establishment of 50-bedded Integrated District Ayush Hospital in all districts of the State, creation of manpower, election/reconstitution of board of Ayurvedic and Unani medicine, Board of Homeopathy, medicinal plants board and paramedical council/ISM Dawasaz (ISM Pharmacist) Board.