The Jammu’s prestigious and heritage health institution, Shri Maharaja Ghulab Singh (SMGS) Hospital today completed its 73 years in service to the people of the state.The foundation of this premier health institution was laid by the then Maharaja Hari Singh and it started function in the year 1943. Since its inception, the hospital has been serving as lifeline not for the people of Jammu region, but for the entire State.The management and staff celebrated 76th foundation day of the Hospital with lot of enthusiasm and traditional fervor at an impressive function organized in the hospital premises here today.Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, who was chief guest on the occasion, paid floral tributes to the late Maharaja by garlanding his statue.MLA Jammu (East) Rajesh Gupta, Secretary Health & Medical Education, Dr. M.K. Bhandari, Principal GMC, Dr. Zahid Geelani, Managing Director, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation, Dr. Yashpal Sharma, Mission Director, NHM, Dr. Mohan Singh, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. B.S. Pathania, Medical Superintendent, SMGS, Dr. Dara Singh, several faculty Members of GMC, SMGS, large number of para-medics and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister lauded the vision and unparallel contribution of late Maharaja towards the development and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir and said that his services will be remembered by the future generations and get inspirations from them. He said the durable and state-of-the-art public assets developed by the Maharaja in the State are not only operative but non-negotiable and hold inspirational values for the coming generations. He stressed the need for preserving and promoting these inherited priceless assets for public good.Calling upon the doctors to give their best in the service of mankind, the Minister said the God has provided them an opportunity to do so, and they must work with missionary sprit. He said the doctors enjoy high esteem in the society because of their noble profession and they must maintain its dignity and come up to the expectations of the people. He maintained that majority of doctors and para-medics are honest and devoted to their duties. “But need of the hour is to motivate those who are poor in their performance and lack professional ethics so that they also contribute equally” he added.He said “I feel highly privileged working as Minister for Health & Medical Education as in this capacity I have got an opportunity to serve the mankind directly.”“The services in the Department can be made even better and result oriented with our collective efforts and positive approach, and I will be at back and call of every single functionary in supporting them in good cause”, the Minister added.
Stressing on the need for evolving innovations in their ideas and functioning to achieve better results on ground, Mr. Bali called upon doctors to make optimum use of new technology and techniques to further improve the patient care in the state. He said Government will welcome and appreciate suggestions and ideas which are aimed at to improve and further strengthen the health system.“Doctors can liberally exchange such ideas with me and i will try my best to propagate these on ground” he added.Reiterating his benchmarks for achieving the goals, Mr. Bali said that Transparency, Accountability and Performance (TAP) are the only para-meters to achieve success. He hoped that everyone right from Nursing Orderly to Head of the Department will follow this mantra in future to achieve the desirable results. He called upon the heads of the institutions to motivate the subordinates to realize the common goals. He said the government will institute special awards to acknowledge and encourage the performance of individuals. A committee of the senior officers will annually recommend the names of such doctors/para-medics showing extraordinary performance and the Government will honor them on special occasions like Republic Day/Independence Day.
The Minister lauded the efforts of the Principal GMC, Jammu and other concerned functionaries for their endeavors towards improving multiple facilities in the GMC and associated Hospitals. He urged upon the concerned to focus on proper sanitation in the hospitals. He appreciated the GMC authorities for hiring the services of the Sulabh agency for maintaining sanitation of toilets and important installations. He urged other institutions to adopt the Sulabh model for sanitation which has earned name in the society for best service, he added.Earlier, the Minister dedicated a newly set up ward in the SMGS Hospital for the service of patients suffering from Hemophilia disease. The ward is fully equipped with all latest gadgets required for the treatment. Prior to this, the patients of Hemophilia were treated at GMC, Jammu.
The Minister also took round of various wards and units to take stock of the facilities there. He also interacted with the patients and attendants and enquired about the facilities in the hospital. He directed the administration to create some facilities for the convenience of the attendants.MLA Rajesh Gupta also paid rich tributes to Shri Maharaja Gulab Singh and remembered his matchless contribution for the development of the State. He demanded MRI facility in the SMGS hospital which is badly needed to tackle the huge rush of patients. He also announced to provide an ambulance to the SMGS from his CDF. He also assured to help the hospital being representative of the area.Secretary Health & Medical Education, Principal GMC and Medical Superintendent, SMGS also spoke on the occasion and apprised about the new initiatives for improving the healthcare facilities in these institutions.Later, the Minister and MLA distributed the mementoes and certificates of excellence to the para-medical staff and others for their good work.