Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Ch Lal Singh today said that strict action will be taken against the management of hospitals, who are not providing the medicines to the patients from the available stocks.“The doctors should provide free treatment to the patients and desist for asking them to purchase medicines from open market. Any hospital staff doing so will face stern action” the Health Minister told Doctors while inspecting the Sub District hospital, Banihal.During his visit to the hospital, the Minister while interacting with, patients, medicos and paramedics inspected the healthcare facilities being provided to the people. MLA Ramban, Neelam Lengeh, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Mission Director National Health Mission Dr. Yash Pal Sharma, Director Family Welfare Dr. Baldev Sharma besides Chief Medical Officer of the district accompanied the Minister. Taking strong notice of unused stocks of medicines in the hospital, the Minister imposed a penalty of Rs 20000 and Rs. 5000 on Storekeeper and Pharmacist, respectively.
Ch Lal Singh also directed Director Health Services to conduct an enquiry into the matter and submit the report within three days as to why the available stock of medicines has not been distributed among the patients. He directed the hospital management to display the list of available medicines at prominent place for the information of the general public.The Minister directed the medicos and paramedics to put in their best efforts for the improvement of medical facilities in Government health institutions. He asked them to work with missionary zeal and take all necessary measures to improve the healthcare.
The Minister also inspected pace of progress on additional block District Hospital Ramban. He directed the executing agency JKPCC to complete the project within stipulated time frame.Responding to the demand of locals, the Minister directed the hospital authorities to take measures for making ultrasound facility available daily basis to the people in the hospital.
Ch Lal Singh went around all the sections including wards and interacted with the patients and enquired about their well-being.At Primary Health Centre, Chanderkote, the Minister inaugurated official accommodation quarters building constructed at a cost of Rs 95 Lakh.Ch Lal Singh said that Government is making all out efforts to provide suitable official accommodation to the medicos serving in far-flung areas of the State. He assured that the accommodation facilities for doctors would be upgraded. He also informed that Government intends to discourage private practice by doctors in the State.Later, the Minister also visited Emergency Hospital Batote and inspected the healthcare facilities being provided to the people there.Responding to the demands of the people, Ch Lal Singh asked officers to depute a trained Post Graduate Radiologist at the Emergency hospital Batote.
The Minister stressed the need to discourage unnecessary referrals from rural hospitals to avoid rush at tertiary hospitals. He called for equipping the district hospitals properly to attend all types of patients except of serious nature which require specialized treatment in the tertiary centers. “The concerned doctors will have to give the reason for referring the particular patient to the higher institutions”, he ordered.Ch Lal Singh also directed the officers to gear up their men and machinery to provide round-the-clock free healthcare facilities to Shri Amarnath pilgrims along the Yatra route. He instructed them to ensure that the medial camps for yatris would be made operational from July 2, the day on which annual Yatra would start.