Health Minister calls for strengthening food safety, drug testing measures across J&K
JAMMU, NOVEMBER 02: Minister for Health and Medical Education and Social Welfare, Sakeena Itoo, Monday, undertook a comprehensive review of the overall health sector scenario across Jammu and Kashmir, taking stock of the functioning of healthcare institutions, availability of medical facilities, manpower position, infrastructure development and delivery of patient-care services across the Union Territory.
The meeting, as per an official statement, was attended by Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Saugat Biswas; MD NHM, CEO SHA, Managing Director JKMSCL, Commissioner Food and Drugs Administration, Director SKIMS, Special Secretary Health and Medical Education department, Director Health Services Jammu/Kashmir, Director Family Welfare, Principals of all GMCs, Principals of Dental College Srinagar/Jammu, State Controller Drugs J&K, Director Ayush, Medical Superintendents of various hospitals and other senior officers of health department.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasised on strengthening of food safety measures as well as drug testing across Jammu and Kashmir. She called upon the officers to procure more number of mobile testing vans so that the testing facilities can be increased across J&K.
The Minister emphasized that strengthening the public healthcare delivery system, upgrading medical infrastructure and ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen remain the foremost priorities of the Government.
She stressed on the need for a coordinated and result-oriented approach among all concerned departments and healthcare institutions to address existing gaps in service delivery and ensure that the benefits of ongoing healthcare initiatives reach people at the grassroots level.
The Minister underscored that healthcare institutions, particularly those operating in far-flung, remote and underserved areas, must be adequately equipped with essential medical facilities, diagnostic services, medicines and qualified healthcare professionals so that patients are not compelled to travel long distances for basic treatment.
The Minister called for optimal utilisation of available human resources, directing the department to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the requirement and deployment of doctors, specialists, nurses, paramedical staff and other supporting personnel across healthcare institutions. She stressed that rational deployment of manpower should be guided by patient load, institutional requirements and the availability of specialised services, with special attention to areas facing staff shortages.
“Doctors, paramedics and other healthcare professionals are the backbone of our public health system. We must ensure that their services are utilised in the most effective manner and that no healthcare institution, particularly in remote and underserved areas, suffers due to avoidable manpower gaps,” the Minister said.
Reviewing the status of healthcare infrastructure, she directed the concerned authorities to ensure timely completion of ongoing projects, proper maintenance of existing facilities and early operationalisation of completed infrastructure. She emphasised that the focus should not remain confined to the creation of physical assets but must also ensure that hospitals and health centres are adequately equipped, staffed and made fully functional.
The Minister also stressed the need to strengthen primary and secondary healthcare services, improve diagnostic facilities and expand access to specialised treatment so that patients can receive quality medical care closer to their homes.
“Every investment in the health sector must translate into better facilities, improved patient outcomes and greater public confidence. Our objective should be to build a healthcare system where quality treatment is accessible to every citizen, irrespective of their geographical location or economic background,” she maintained.
On the availability of medicines and medical equipment, Sakeena Itoo stressed the importance of a robust procurement and distribution mechanism, strict quality control and transparent procedures. She directed the concerned authorities to ensure timely availability of essential and life-saving medicines, surgical consumables and functional medical equipment in all government healthcare institutions.
She also called for strengthening emergency healthcare services, ambulance facilities, referral mechanisms and critical care infrastructure to ensure timely medical intervention, particularly in cases requiring specialised and emergency treatment.
Emphasising the importance of preventive healthcare, the Minister called for sustained efforts in immunisation, maternal and child healthcare, disease surveillance, health awareness and community-level interventions. She stressed that greater emphasis must be laid on early diagnosis, preventive screening and public awareness to reduce the burden of preventable diseases.
“Public healthcare must be driven by compassion, accountability and commitment. Every patient visiting a government health institution deserves dignified treatment, timely attention and quality medical care. There should be no compromise on patient safety, cleanliness and the overall standards of healthcare services,” she said.
The Minister also called for strengthening the monitoring mechanism at the administrative as well as institutional levels, directing senior officers to undertake regular field visits, interact with healthcare professionals and assess the functioning of hospitals and other health facilities.
She stressed that officers must remain responsive to public grievances and ensure prompt corrective measures wherever deficiencies are identified.
Reiterating the Government’s commitment to transforming the healthcare landscape of Jammu and Kashmir, Sakeena Itoo said that the department must work with a clear roadmap, measurable targets and a strong focus on outcomes.
“Our endeavour is to establish a robust, inclusive and responsive healthcare delivery system across Jammu and Kashmir. We have to move forward with a shared sense of responsibility and ensure that the Government’s initiatives translate into visible improvements in the lives of ordinary people,” the Minister said.
The Minister, during the meeting, also directed the department to procure around 100 Ambulances, including ample number of 4×4 Ambulances for hilly terrain areas. She also called for immediate posting of medical officers, who have been recruited recently.
The Minister also directed all concerned officers to maintain close coordination, ensure time-bound implementation of decisions and work with dedication towards strengthening the public healthcare infrastructure and service delivery mechanism across both divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.
