Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, today convened a high level meeting of officers to take stock of medical facilities available in the health institutions of Kashmir Division.Minister of State for Health and Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, was also present in the meeting.Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Pawan Kotwal, briefed the Ministers about the various activities and schemes of the Health Department and the subsequent action taken report in this regard.The meeting was informed that during last fiscal Rs 135.39 crore were released for 60 works under Prime Minister Development Package (PMDP) and a sum of Rs 119.75 crore were received and later released to Chief Engineer R&B Kashmir and CMOs. The officials were directed to issue utilization certificate at the earliest for further release of funds. While informing about the NABARD projects, the Ministers were informed that 68 health projects have been sanctioned in Kashmir Division and as on date Rs 4.77 crore utilization certificate is awaited.
It was given out that under NABARD, 53 projects are under execution in Kashmir Division and utilization certificate for Rs 2.67 crore is awaited from executing agencies which shall be submitted shortly to the Administrative Department.
It was also said that against the 53 projects, project completion certificate of 29 projects along with photographs have already been submitted and for remaining 24 projects.The meeting also informed that Tribal Affairs Department has sanctioned 9 health projects in Kashmir Division during 2016-17 under Tribal Sub Plan and in this regard, an amount of Rs 4.15 crore have been released for construction of buildings and other infrastructure during 2016-17.Director Health Services, Kashmir, Saleem-ur-Rehman, Managing Director Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL), Dr Inderjeet, Director Family Welfare, Sameer Mattoo and Mission Director, NHM, Mohan Singh also briefed the meeting about the different activities carried out by the Health Department.Medical Superintends, CMOs, BMO and HODs of different district of Kashmir Division also highlighted the issues before the ministers regarding shortage of medical and para-medical staff, machineries, equipments and other related issues.On the occasion, Bhagat appreciated the role of the department of Kashmir Division for giving rendering services in tough times and asked the concerned to work with added dedication and coordination so that people could get hassle free services from the Department.The Minister stressed on cleanliness in hospitals and said that works of repair and facelifts in the health institutions should be immediately carried out so that patients don’t have to face any inconvenience.He also asked the concerned authorities to make a DPR for repairment of machinery and equipment which are lying defunct in the Government hospitals within 3 days so that the appropriate steps could be taken in this regard.The Minister asked the concerned authorities to provide adequate drugs in the Government hospitals so that the people of the state especially those living in far flung areas could get medicines at the hospitals.Among others, senior officers of Health and Medical Education Department were also present in the meeting.