Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Athar Aamir Khan, today conducted an extensive visit to District Hospital (DH) Budgam to inspect its functioning, assess ongoing infrastructure development projects, and review the progress of critical facilities aimed at improving healthcare services in the district.
During the visit, the DC inspected the upgraded Blood Bank, which has been expanded to a second storey. He was apprised that all necessary machinery and equipment for conducting blood tests and storage of blood, including advanced diagnostic tools, have been installed.
The DC emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Blood Bank operates efficiently to meet the critical healthcare needs of the residents. He also reviewed the functioning of the Oxygen Plant at DH Budgam and interacted with the staff to assess its operational readiness.
He directed the concerned authorities to ensure uninterrupted oxygen supply to cater to emergency requirements and patient care. During his visit, the DC interacted with hospital staff and enquired about the availability of healthcare services, infrastructure, and maintenance.
He also interacted with the patients and attendants. He stressed the need for cleanliness and sanitation in and around the hospital premises and called for maintaining a patient-friendly environment. Later, the DC visited the under-construction 125-Bedded new District Hospital and 100-Bedded Critical Care Unit at Reshipora Budgam.
During the inspection, the DC reviewed various components of the under-construction health infrastructure and took stock of the pace and quality of the work. He was informed that the structural skeleton of the building has been completed and the structural steel truss work is about 95 percent complete.
Overall, nearly 65 percent of the project has been physically completed so far. The project is expected to be completed by March 2027, while the target for substantial completion is December 2026. The DC directed the executing agencies to expedite the pace of work while ensuring quality standards and compliance with accessibility norms so that the facility benefits patients and attendants once completed.
During the visit, the DC stated that the District Administration will conduct weekly monitoring of the construction works to ensure that the new hospital is completed within the stipulated timeframe and dedicated to the public at the earliest. He also remarked that the new District Hospital is a long-standing requirement of the people of Budgam as the existing hospital lacks adequate space to cater to the growing healthcare needs of the district.
He said the new facility will significantly strengthen healthcare infrastructure and improve patient care services in the district. The DC reiterated that the District Administration remains committed to improving healthcare delivery and directed all concerned departments to ensure the timely completion of the ongoing projects.
Senior officials including the Chief Planning Officer Budgam, Chief Medical Officer Budgam, Executive Engineer R&B Budgam,Tehsildar Budgam and representatives from executing agencies accompanied the DC during the inspection.