Stating that the medical education has been aptly termed as the noblest of professions, Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti today said the field of medicine demands a blend of professional training with ethical values and human attributes.“We have to work towards universal, affordable, quality healthcare for every single soul in Jammu and Kashmir,” the Chief Minister said while interacting with the staff and students of Government Medical College Jammu after laying the foundation of 106-bed Boy’s Hostel.Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mr Bali Bhagat and Vice-Chairman State Advisory Board for Development of Schedule Castes, Mr Bushan Lal Dogra were present on the occasion.Acknowledging the commitment and dedication of the medical and healthcare fraternity towards the society, the Chief Minister said the manner in which the medics and paramedics rose to the occasion during the recent crisis in Kashmir and attended to their duties is commendable. She said the doctors did not even care about going back to their homes for days together and ensured that proper medical care is given to the patients, which calls high on their professionalism and reposes faith in this noble profession.
Responding to the demands projected by the students during the interaction, the Chief Minister said that students are our future and sentinel of our well being and we shall ensure that they get best of facilities.The Chief Minister announced Rs 3 crore for completion of under-construction building of indoor stadium in the boy’s hostel premises and asked MD JKPCC to ensure its completion within next six months. She also announced three special buses each for Government Medical College Jammu and Srinagar to facilitate transportation of GMC staff and students.Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister assured the staff and students of the Medical College, that she would want to hold more such interactive sessions to take first hand appraisal of their issues and demands so that requisite steps could be taken accordingly.Earlier, while giving a brief of the project Secretary Health, Mr Mandeep Bhandari apprised the that the project of the hostel building is being executed by JKPCC and informed that that steps are underway to augment various facilities for the students viz expansion project for the college library which has been taken up as per MCI guidelines and its up-gradation with internet and other contemporary facilities.Meanwhile, the college faculty also put-forth their demands pertaining to various administrative issues viz holding of regular DPCs, correction of pay disparity between Health and Medical Education Departments, career assured promotion, research and conference allowances, etc.The students demanded recreational facilities and scholarships for financially weak students.