SRINAGAR: The Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare, and Education, Sakeena Masood, directed health officials to upgrade existing healthcare facilities at hospitals across Jammu and Kashmir to meet public expectations. The meeting, attended by top officials from the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department, focused on the performance of ongoing healthcare initiatives and infrastructure improvements across the region.
Among those present were the Secretary H&ME, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, the Commissioner for Food and Drugs Administration, the CEO of the State Health Agency, and directors from SKIMS, Health Jammu/Kashmir, and other medical bodies. Principals of all Government Medical Colleges, as well as the Principals of Dental College Srinagar and Indira Gandhi Dental College Jammu, were also in attendance.
Minister Sakeena Masood emphasised the importance of upgrading healthcare services to meet the needs of the people. She urged officials to ensure transparency and accountability within the department, noting that such measures would contribute to a healthcare system that is accessible, effective, and people-centred. She called for timely completion of current healthcare projects, highlighting that this would lead to significant improvements in the sector without launching new projects.
The Minister also instructed department heads to conduct awareness campaigns on the 102 and 108 ambulance services, as well as the 104 helpline, to improve accessibility, particularly in rural areas. Furthermore, she urged hospital administrators to reduce non-emergency referrals to Srinagar, ensuring that district and sub-district hospitals are adequately equipped to manage routine cases locally.
Sakeena Masood called for regular audits of medical facilities, including private diagnostic centres, to ensure fair pricing and quality of service. She also directed the establishment of strict monitoring protocols to prevent the sale of spurious drugs and required prescription audits to be submitted within weeks.
Addressing human resource challenges, she instructed the department to fill vacant posts promptly to maintain adequate staffing levels in all healthcare facilities. She directed the Secretary of Health to implement a transparent transfer policy and to cancel recent doctor attachments, reallocating them to areas with critical shortages.
Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, provided a detailed presentation on the department’s performance, underscoring the progress and goals set to strengthen healthcare across Jammu and Kashmir.
