SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday reviewed the ongoing health sector reforms in Jammu and Kashmir and called for prioritising critical gaps in manpower, equipment and healthcare infrastructure.
Omar, who also holds the Finance portfolio, chaired a meeting attended by Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani, Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister Dheeraj Gupta and Commissioner Secretary, Health and Medical Education, M Raju.
Senior officials and heads of major healthcare institutions, including SKIMS, Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS Medical College and Hospital, the National Health Mission, J&K Medical Supplies Corporation and Food and Drug Administration, also attended the meeting.
The meeting reviewed the progress made in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and services across the Union Territory and assessed requirements for further reforms.
Officials made presentations on infrastructure, medical education, specialised healthcare, digital health, public health and human resources.
Omar said the Health Department had made progress in addressing manpower shortages and deficiencies in infrastructure and equipment over the past nearly two years.
He, however, stressed that the proposed reforms would require substantial financial resources and could not be implemented in a single phase.
The chief minister directed the department to identify areas requiring immediate attention in line with available budgetary resources and to improve basic facilities in the primary and secondary healthcare system.
He said the Advisory Committee’s report could serve as a roadmap for the reforms, while the government would have to prioritise projects according to available resources.
“As I am currently looking after the Finance Department as well, I reassure the department and particularly the Minister concerned that whatever we can do from the Finance Department to continue this improvement in the Health Department, we will do,” Omar said.
The meeting also examined the functioning and requirements of Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS and other tertiary and district-level healthcare institutions, with emphasis on patient care, infrastructure, equipment, medical education and specialised services.
Issues discussed included cancer care, expansion of medical education and seat capacity, digital health services, oral healthcare, food safety, mental health, drug de-addiction, liver transplant services, nutritional support and geriatric care.
