Minister for Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali exhorted upon medical fraternity to prescribe generic medicines to the patients besides asking Health Department to raise mass awareness regarding 68 drugs under Central government’s initiative of Free Drug Policy.While chairing meeting of Rogi Kalyan Samiti of Darhal Assembly segment, Chowdhary Zulfkar Ali urged doctors to prescribe genuine medicines to the patients.The Minister said that everybody is a consumer in one aspect or the other and his department has the mandate to safeguard rights of consumers at all levels. He said that J&K Consumer Protection Council has already taken up the issue of prescribing generic medicines to the patients with the Health Department urging them to issue notification in this regard.The Minister also asked the Health Department to ensure registration of general test laboratories and specialized test laboratories for benefit of the general public.
The Minister said that government is committed to provide better medicare to the people for which they are going to open new institutions equipped with high tech diagnostic and treatment tools in the state. He said that steps are also being made to further streamline infrastructural facilities in hospitals besides filling up of the vacant posts of doctors and para medical staff.The Minister emphasized upon the NRHM authorities to ensure speedy upgradation of Tehsil and district hospitals with provision of advanced diagnostic equipments and excellent health services in remote areas so that referral rate towards tertiary health care providers is reduced and decongestion at tertiary level is lowered.The Minister was briefed about the activities of health institutions of Darhal particularly CHC Kandi, PHC Trallan, PHC Peeri, PHC Budhal and CHC Darhal. He was informed that 33051 patients were examined, 4208 minor surgeries were conducted, 504 women benefited under JSY scheme besides 9887 lab tests and 858 x rays were conducted during 2016 17.It was also apprised that 123425 patients were examined during 2016- 17 besides conducting 3677 minor surgeries, 12027 lab tests and 636 x rays and organizing 255 medical camps.The Minister asked the Power Development Department to prepare estimate for special feeder for CHC Darhal and Kandi. He instructed CMO to send one doctor for USG training so that these machines are made operational. He also instructed for installation of CCTV Camera in District Hospital Rajouri within next 15 days.Deputy Commissioner, SSP, SC PWD Rajouri Poonch, CMO, BMO Darhal, BMO Kandi, other senior officers and members of RKS of Darhal and Kandi areas were present in the meeting.