Kashmir Impulse Desk
Srinagar, Sep 14
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday directed the health department to prioritise critical gaps in infrastructure, manpower and equipment as it works to implement a broader reform plan for the sector.
Chairing a meeting to review healthcare reforms, Abdullah said the government needed to sequence its priorities because the financial resources required to implement the entire reform blueprint would not be available at once.
The chief minister, who also holds the finance portfolio, said the department should use the recommendations of an advisory committee as a roadmap while focusing first on areas requiring immediate attention.
He also stressed the need to strengthen basic primary and secondary healthcare facilities alongside specialised services.
“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,” Abdullah said.
The meeting reviewed healthcare infrastructure, medical education, specialised services, digital health and human-resource requirements across the union territory.
Officials also discussed cancer care, medical college seat capacity, oral healthcare, food safety, mental health and drug de-addiction, liver transplant services, nutrition and geriatric care.
The functioning and requirements of Government Medical Colleges, SKIMS and district- and tertiary-level institutions were also examined, with emphasis on patient care, equipment, infrastructure and medical education.
Health Minister Sakina Itoo, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Chief Minister’s Advisor Nasir Aslam Wani and senior health officials attended the meeting. Officials stationed outside Srinagar joined through video conferencing.
