SRINAGAR, MAY 12: Jammu and Kashmir government is working tirelessly to expand the healthcare network in a bid to provide the best medicare facilities to the people at their doorsteps.
Special focus is laid on ‘Prevention, Better Treatment and Care’. In his regard, seven new medical colleges, two AIIMS, nearly 1000 healthcare and wellness centers, and five new nursing colleges have been established in J&K besides introducing BSc paramedical courses and increasing medical seats by almost more than 100 percent.
The government is not only creating the best private hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar but also strengthening district hospitals and health centers.
The government launched J&K Health Care Investment Policy (HCIP) to encourage private players to set up healthcare infrastructure in the Union Territory.
This Healthcare Investment Policy aims to materialize the UT government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare to its citizens at their doorsteps. Besides, the document ensures the availability of a complete gamut of healthcare services in primary, secondary, and tertiary care centers to people of the UT.
Abrogation of Article has accelerated the growth and development scenario in J&K with complete implementation of several revolutionary policies and interventions in the Union Territory.
The new Unani Medical College and Hospital have been set up for Rs 32.50 crore at Ganderbal with the financial assistance of Rs 17 crore from the Ministry of Ayush under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, Rs 18.25 crore from the J&K government, and Rs 38.82 lakh under National AYUSH Mission to make the college operational. The college has an intake capacity of 60 students in BUMS course besides having a hospital with 60 bedded facilities.
Notably, the AYUSH ministry has sanctioned several other projects in J&K under National AYUSH Mission and erstwhile centrally sponsored schemes including a Government Ayurvedic Medical College at Akhnoor, five 50 bedded integrated Ayush Hospitals in the districts of Kupwara, Kulgam, Kishtwar, Kathua and Samba besides upgrading the existing infrastructure of 35 standalone Ayush dispensaries and promoting 571 Ayush dispensaries as health and wellness centers in a phased manner under the flagship program of Ayushman Bharat by 2023-24.
Speaking on the transformation taking place in the health sector of J&K, Lieutenant Governor said that the government is introducing new reforms for developing a balanced healthcare ecosystem that promotes social equality besides ensuring easily accessible quality health facilities for all.
“This important stride in the healthcare sector truly symbolizes PM Narendra Modi’s vision of self-reliance, achieving excellence in modern health facilities for remote locations and reducing the urban-rural divide to deliver services at people’s doorsteps”, added the LG.
LG maintained that ‘Our efforts of reforming the healthcare sector have been impressive. We have addressed the health infrastructure issues with a comprehensive and long-term national vision under the guidance of the Prime Minister and even the far-flung areas now have adequate, affordable, and reliable healthcare facilities.
Jammu and Kashmir has one of the highest budget allocations in the country. Some of the worth mentioning health infrastructure projects included two new AIIMS with a project cost of Rs 4000 crore each at the Jammu and Kashmir division. Besides, seven new Government Medical Colleges are being established with a total cost of Rs 1595 crore, and ten new Nursing Colleges with an approximate cost of Rs. 60 crore and 5 nursing colleges have been upgraded. Similarly, two State Cancer institutes worth Rs 240 crore are coming up one each in Jammu and Kashmir division, and 274 projects under CAPEX are being carried out to create unparalleled healthcare infrastructure.
