Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today visited Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Base Camp Hospital Baltal and took stock of the medicare facilities put in place for pilgrims there for the yatra period.Chairing a meeting of officers to review the medical facilities at Baltal, the Minister directed the concerned for ensuring adequate stock of life saving drugs, other necessary equipments and portable oxygen cylinders at the main camp for the pilgrims. He said health department has significant role during the yatra period and must put in place best infrastructure to respond to any emergent situation.Giving details about the medical facilities kept available at Base Camp Hospital, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman informed the Minister that elaborate arrangements have been made for extending medical facilities to Yatris. He said good number of medicos and para-medics, with sufficient stock of life saving drug and diagnostic facilities is available in the Base Camp hospital to meet any exigency. He said, in addition, an ISM dispensary has also been established in the Base camp hospital. Medical Camps have also been set up by Army, BSF and CRPF in the Base camp and en-route, he added.
Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements put in place at the Base Camp, Panjtarni and Holy Cave, the Minister urged upon the medicos and para-medicos to work with zeal and dedication to provide best possible medicare to the pilgrims, saying that it is a noble profession and you have an opportunity to serve the humanity. He also asked for carrying out wide publicity about the precautions to be taken by the pilgrims during yatra.Inspecting the Base Camp hospital, the Minister went round wards, USG, X-ray, ECG units and laboratory. He interacted with the patients and attendants and got feedback about the facilities being provided there. He said that the Government has made fool-proof arrangements for the smooth conduct of yatra. He also stressed the need for ensuring cleanliness and effective sanitation in and around the hospital premises.At Holy cave and Panjtarni medical camps, the Minister found that everything has been put in order with regard to medical related facilities.Earlier, the Minister paid obeisance at Shri Amarnathji Holy Cave and prayed for peace, prosperity and development of the State.Later, the Minister flagged-off an ambulance ‘ICU on wheel’ donated by a Chandigarh based NGO. MLA, Dalip Singh Parihar and Secretary, Health & Medical Education Dr. M K Bhandari accompanied the Minister during the tour.