SRINAGAR: The Government has approved a Government Nursing College at Budgam, but the institution is yet to become operational as a proposal for creation of the required manpower remains under consideration, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo informed the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
The Minister was responding to a question raised by legislator Dr Shafi Ahmad Wani.
Itoo said the Government was currently focusing on consolidating the existing healthcare delivery system, while critical gaps were being assessed through feasibility studies and digital interventions such as tele-consultation and e-Sanjeevani were being used to extend healthcare outreach.
She clarified that there is no proposal at present to establish a Nursing College at Beerwah or a Trauma Hospital at Magam.
On the proposed trauma facility, the Minister said a basic Level-III Trauma Centre requires at least 73 staff members to become fully functional, including a general surgeon, orthopaedic surgeon, anaesthetist and radiographer.
Operationalising such a centre would involve an estimated annual financial implication of Rs 5 crore towards manpower and related requirements, she said.
Itoo said trauma cases in the area are currently being managed through existing facilities, including District Hospital Budgam, Sub-District Hospital Beerwah and SDH Magam, besides tertiary-care hospitals such as JVC Bemina and SMHS Hospital.
She said the Government would undertake a need assessment at an appropriate stage to determine the feasibility of the proposed facilities and take further action in accordance with prescribed rules and norms.
On demands to upgrade the existing Sub-Centres at Charangam, Iskanderpora and SK-Pora into New Type Primary Health Centres, the Minister said the facilities did not meet the population criteria prescribed under the Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) guidelines.
Under the norms, a population of 20,000 is required in hilly or difficult areas and 30,000 in plain areas for such an upgradation, she said.
Itoo also informed the House that there is currently no proposal to establish new Health Sub-Centres at Lassipora, Nusso and Bandgam, citing the department’s focus on consolidation of the existing healthcare delivery system.
