Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh today directed the authorities of Health Department to gear up for providing round the clock free healthcare facilities to Shri Amarnath ji Yatries all along the Yatra route(s).He directed the department to make available healthcare facilities for the pilgrims right from Lakhanpur and along the twin routes (Baltal and Pahalgam) to the Himalayan cave shrine in Anantnag district of Kashmir division.The Minister was speaking at a meeting of officers of Health Department, here at Directorate of Indian Systems of Medicines (ISM).Director General ISM Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Mission Director NHM Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Sharma, Project Director AIDS Control Society Dr. Mohan Singh besides Chief Medical Officers of Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Udhampur, Kathua, Samba, Reasi and Ramban were present on the occasion.
The Minister directed the officers to deploy adequate staff of medicos and paramedics including drugs and equipments at the medical aid camp which are being arranged from July 2, 2015 from Lakhanpur to Baltal and Pahalgam. He asked the ISM and Health Department authorities to arrange jointly medical aid camps. He informed that during the Yatra days, the accommodation to the deployed medicos and paramedics will be provided by the respective departments.Ch Lal Singh directed for arranging medical aid camps at base camps at Kathua, Jammu and Anantnag districts and also near Holy Cave. He asked for ambulance services up to the distance of 20 kilometer of the Medical Aid Camps. He said during the yatra period mobile medical teams will also be deployed for providing healthcare facilities to the yatries. He directed the officers to issue instructions to the deployed staff not to leave the camp when his reliver arrives.
For facilitating the deployed staff, the Minister asked to provide sleeping beds alongwith bedding, furnishing, furniture, contingency articles, equipments and medicienes by June 25, 2015at the locals of the free medical aid camps. He directed the officers to ask the deployed staff for submitting daily basis report to the Nodal Officer Yatra. He asked the doctors to issue medical certificates to the willing yatries of Shri Amarnath Yatra from Monday after proper examining under the health department norms. He said his aim to issue medical certificate to yatries from the doorstep hospital without any delay.Later, Ch Lal Singh also pays surprise visit to Emergency Ward of Government Medical College and enquired the medicare facilities being provided to the patients. He directed the doctors and paramedics to provide patient-friendly treatment to them so that they do not face any inconvenience.
The Minister directed concerned authorities to ensure their frequent surprise checks of deployed staff in the other wards and ensure that no official or officer remains absent from duties. He also issued directions for providing hassle free treatment facilities to the patients in the hospitals besides covering all the pregnant mothers and neonates under the benefits of NRHM.At Kala Kendra in Gandhi Nagar, Ch Lal Singh inaugurated poster exhibition on Drug, Abuse and Anti Smoking organised by son of soil of Mr. Suresh Sharma.Speaking on the occasion, the Minister stressed the need to spread awareness and implement meaningful policies for addressing issues of drug and illicit liquor consumption. He stresses the people away from such substances will improve family relations which, in turn, will lead to an overall betterment of the society.