Jammu, March 22 (Scoop News) – Minister for Health, Sham Lal Sharma has said the Government has created 321 posts of specialist doctors in health services Kashmir and Jammu during current financial year.
This was stated by the Minister while replying to a question by Mr Nizam-ud-Din Bhat in Legislative Assembly here today.
Sham Lal Sharma has said that SSRB has selected 234 drivers which would be posted shortly to run ambulances in various health institutions, adding some more posts of drivers have been created and referred to SSRB for selection so that all 500 ambulances in the department get drivers to make these operational.
Replying to supplementaries of members on a question of Ch Mohammad Ramzan in the Legislative Assembly here today, the Minister said under rules drivers cannot be engaged under Hospital Development Fund (HDF) which he said would be clear violation of norms and rules. He said HDF is only meant for repairs and maintenance of hospital requirement and buildings. He said we shall have to be judicious utility of public money and not violate set norms in this regard. He said Government is shortly procuring 25 critical care ambulances gives fillip to healthcare delivery system.
In reply to main question, the Minister said that two storey building for PHC Natnusa stands completed and made functional. He said the work on phase-II for PHC Wadipora is under progress, adding that construction work of PHCs Kandi, Kakroosa and Behnipora would be taken up in a phased manner. He however said to ensure safety at PHC Natnusa, walling around the said hospital building stands completed.
The Minister said that construction work of IPD Block District Hospital Handwara (SDH) have been completed and made functional. He said orders for procurement of CT scan machine for the hospital have already been placed and would be installed shortly.
The Minister said that 46 posts of doctors, paramedical and other staff have been created for SDH Kupwara during current fiscal. He said department has presently assessing the bare minimum requirements for opening and upgradation of various health institutions in the State for its further submission to the Planning & development Department.
He said requirement for opening and upgradation of health institutions at Trathpora, Natnusa and Wadder would also be taken into consideration provided these fulfill the norms of bare-minimum requirements.
Giving details of the sanctioned strength of medicos and para-medicos in health institutions of district Kupwara, the Minister said that out of sanctioned 1558 posts of medicos and para-medicos 1134 posts are filled up and vacant posts in respect of A grade, B grade medicos and para-medicos are mostly the newly created posts.
He said 11 primary health centres are functioning in Handwara constituency and against sanctioned strength of 34 doctors, 26 are in position. Similarly 108 posts are para-medicos and other staffs are in position against the sanctioned strength of 150. He said in most of PHCs, X-ray plants, Dental Units, Lab and Ambulance facilities are available.