‘JK lacks healthcare facilities’

Srinagar, July 20: The lack of health centres in rural areas is forcing people to go to cities for the treatment
as Jammu and Kashmir lacks over 1500 health centres.
Sources within the health department said that the state lacks the health centres. “There will remain a huge
rush in Srinagar and Jammu hospitals unless health facilities are provided in rural areas,” an official said.
The official said that JK government may ask the centre for financial assistance to improvise the health
facilities. “The health sector has been least priority of the successive government. Now government is only
eying that centre may provide the state some assistance,” the official said.
The existing healthcare centres of the state, the official said lack basic infrastructure, which has become a
major concern for the people of J&K.
They said over 3000 health institutions in the state are lacking proper infrastructure and exposing the dismal
health care scenario of J&K.
“I was surprised that the state was conferred best health care services several times over the years,” the
official said.
According to official sources, the state has deficiency of over 1500 health institutions based on catchment
area, population coverage and existing health care institutes across the J&K.
Meanwhile, a senior official said the Health Department has sent the proposal to the Finance and Planning
Department for up-gradation of the health care system of the state and implementation of the Dr Kamal
Committee recommendations.
“The government is yet to establish these health care centres but the process is going on for their creation,”
one of the officials of health department said.
Earlier, the House Committee (set by J&K Legislative Assembly) headed by Dr Mustafa Kamal had conceded
discrepancies in far-flung areas and the poor scenario of the health-care in the State and had given various
recommendations for the up liftment of the health care centre.
“But no progress has been made and the recommendations were gathering dust,” sources revealed. (KNS)