The Committee on Public Accounts of Jammu and Kashmir Assembly, led by chairman, Mian Altaf Ahmad today inspected various health institutions and reviewed the health services being provided to the patients, particularly in rural and far-flung areas of Udhampur and Reasi districts.The committee members also reviewed the position of health staff, infrastructure and other health services available in various hospitals of the twin districts. Legislators, Nawang Rigzin Jora, Javaid Mustafa Mir, Choudhary Sukhnandan, Aijaz Ahmed Khan, Er Abdul Rashid, besides Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr M K Bhandari, Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr Gurjeet Singh, Director Family Welfare Dr Baldev Raj Sharma, District Development Commissioner Niraj Kumar and Mission Director, NHM Dr Mohan Singh attended the meeting.Expressing concern over the shortage of staff in health institutions of the district, the Committee members directed the concerned to deploy sufficient doctors and paramedical staff in the far-flung and rural areas. They also laid emphasis on improvement of the health infrastructure after being apprised that around 18 Primary Health Centers in the district are functioning in rented buildings.The Committee further stressed on the need to deploy additional ambulances in the far-flung areas as people suffer in case of emergency. Detailed discussion was also held on the issue of shortage of paramedical staff.
Earlier, the committee members inspected District Hospital, Udhampur and took stock of the facilities available in the hospital. The chairman along with the members inspected the Emergency ward, Trauma Centre, Registration Counter, OT Complex, ICU complex, Blood Bank and laboratories of the District Hospital.The Chief Medical Officer, Dr Chander Prakash, apprised the committee about various facilities being provided by the District Hospital like Physiotherapy center, Specialized New Born care Unit, Security arrangements such as installment of CCTVs and services provided through well-equipped laboratories.The Committee members expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the district hospital and appreciated the CMO and hospital staff for their dedicated efforts. Medical Superintendent, Dr. Narinder Bhutyal was also present on the occasion.Later, the committee also visited Community Health Centre, Katra and interacted with the patients there. The Committee also inspected various wards and sections of the Health Centre.