Jammu, 29 March (H.S.): Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, held a detailed review meeting of health experts to assess the progress made by the Health & Medical Education (H&ME) Department in enhancing patient care and healthcare services across the newly established medical colleges and district hospitals across J&K.

During the meeting, the Chief Secretary conducted a detailed review of the action taken on previous directions aimed at upgrading the seven newly established medical colleges into fully functional tertiary care institutions. He emphasized that strengthening these institutions is essential to ensure equitable access to quality healthcare services closer to people’s homes.

Highlighting the growing healthcare demands, the Chief Secretary observed that premier institutions in Jammu and Srinagar alone cannot cater to the entire population of the Union Territory. He stressed the need for new medical colleges and district hospitals to significantly augment their capacities and bridge existing gaps in specialized healthcare delivery.

Outlining the strategic roadmap, the Chief Secretary reiterated that, in the initial phase, each institution should focus on developing six key specialty services including the Trauma and Emergency Care, Critical Care Units (involving the establishment of ICUs, HDUs and CCUs) besides that of the Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology and Oncology Departments to deliver comprehensive tertiary care to patients within their respective jurisdictions.

He further directed these institutions to work in close coordination with established centers of excellence such as AIIMS Jammu, SKIMS, and the Government Medical Colleges of Jammu and Srinagar. He noted that such collaboration would facilitate capacity building, knowledge sharing and technical support for the emerging institutions.

The Chief Secretary also underscored the importance of leveraging technology-driven initiatives, including Tele-ICU and Tele-Radiology services, to enhance diagnostic and critical care capabilities in peripheral institutions. He called upon the stakeholders to adopt a forward-looking approach and formulate concrete, time-bound action plans to achieve the targeted outcomes.

In addition to patient care, the Chief Secretary emphasized the need to strengthen medical education by increasing MBBS, postgraduate and super-specialty seats across the institutions, thereby building a robust healthcare workforce for the future.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Krishan Kumar