Minister of State for Health, Mr. Shabir Ahmad Khan called upon the concerned executing agencies for ensuring time bound completion of all ongoing health infrastructure projects in the State adding that any negligence in this regard will be taken seriously for taking appropriate action. He said that the un-necessary delays in timely completion of projects not only causes cost escalation but creates problems for regulating better patient care facilities in the hospitals.These directions was given by the Health Minister today during his tour to Udhampur district where he inspected the pace of progress of under construction Sub-District Hospital building Chennai, besides took stock of the functioning of District hospital, Udhampur, Primary Health Center, Chennai and Model Primary Health Center, Tikri.
The Minister took stock of the pace of the progress of hundred bedded Sub District hospital Chennai and gave dead line for its completion within two months keeping in view the importance of the hospital on national highway.He was apprised that construction work of this four storey hospital complex have been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs.10 Crore against which Rs.8.96 crore have been released under NRHM and state plan and out of which Rs.5.50 crore expended on its execution till date while as the two storeys of the complex have been completed.
The Health Minister during the inspection of the hospitals in the area went round each section, met the patient and enquired about the available medicare facilities being provided to the patients. He directed hospital administrators for maintaining proper cleanliness in and around the Hospitals. He also took stock of the facilities being provided to the patients under Centrally Sponsored Schemes RKS and JSS and directed the concerned for utilization of funds for hospital welfare with close consultation of concerned Legislators.
The Minister during his meetings with hospital functionaries under scored the need for providing hassle free treatment facilities to the patients and bringing complete transparency, accountability in the working of each section of the health centers.The Health Minister also received the appraisal about the several programmes and policies initiated for up gradation of health care facilities in the district from the concerned authorities.
He asked the concerned authorities for bringing in more reforms in the Department to infuse efficiency, transparency and above all a qualitative change in the patient care at all hospitals. He said improvement of services in terms of patient care, medication and other facilities at hospitals is as important as strengthening basic infrastructure at these health institutions.
Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Director Family Welfare, Dr. Kuldeep Kasir, Chief Medical Officer, Udhampur besides, other senior officers and Engineers accompanied the Minister during the tour.
Earlier, several deputations including senior leaders of Congress party of the areas called on the Minister and demand creation of more health centers in remote and hilly areas of the district besides, they also urged for construction and completion of hospital buildings and availability of health care equipment’s in remote hospitals.The Minister gave patient hearing to the deputationists and assured them that necessary steps would be taken up to mitigate their genuine demands related with improvement of health care facilities in the area.