Financial Commissioner, Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a high level meeting to review functioning of Indian Systems of Medicine, State AYUSH Society and Medicinal Plants Board in J&K.The meeting was attended by CEO J&K Medicinal Plants Board, T. Rabi Kumar; Director ISM, J&K Dr Mohan Singh; Managing Director, J&K Housing Board Tasaaduq Jeelani, Chief Engineer PWD (R&B) Nasir Goni; Joint Director Planning H&ME Madal Lal and other officers.Atal Dullo directed the officers to work in close coordination so that all the pending works of various projects will be completed within the set deadline. He asked the JK Housing Board to complete all the works at Government Ayurvedic Medical College at Akhnoor by January 2020 so that admission for the fresh batch is started from next academic session from the new campus. He directed the authorities to follow the norms and procedures of Central Council of Indian Medicine and University of Kashmir.Regarding the hostel facilities at Ayurvedic and Unani colleges at Akhnoor and Ganderbal respectively, the FC issued instructions that a provision of funds for hostels along with machinery, equipment, furniture for both the colleges be proposed under next year’s CAPEX budget. He also directed that the DPRs for establishing herbal gardens in both the colleges should be prepared by concerned college authorities and submitted to the Medicinal Plants Board J&K for recommendation to Ministry of AYUSH.
With regard to setting up of Drug controlling authority of AYUSH in J&K, the FC said that Director ISM J&K be nominated as Drug controller AYUSH with divisional level officers to be nominated as Deputy Drug controllers and District level officers of ISM as drug inspectors AYUSH in their respective districts.Director ISM, J&K Dr Mohan Singh briefed the meeting about the latest status of various components of National AYUSH Mission. He informed the meeting that out of Rs.39 crore released under National AYUSH Mission by Union Ministry of AYUSH, Rs.22 crore have been utilized and the unspent balance of Rs.17 crore is under revalidation with Finance Department.He informed that as per the directions of FC, OPD services have already been started at the Associated hospitals of Government Ayurvedic Medical College Akhnoor and Government Unani Medical College Ganderbal. He said that 1,092 and 762 patients have been provided treatment and free drugs at Government Unani Medical College Ganderbal and Government Ayurvedic Medical College Akhnoor respectively.Regarding establishment of Institute of High Altitude Medicinal Plants at Bhaderwah, Director Mohan Singh explained the preliminary action taken and future roadmap for creating prestigious IHAMP.