Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Nov 29: On the directions of Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, free medical treatment is being provided to the pilgrims, poor and certain other specified categories of patients at the Superspeciality Hospital Kakryal, the cost of which is borne by the Shrine Board under its Medical Support Policy.
In this context, in a report to the Governor, Chief Executive Officer of the Shrine Board, J. K. Singh, informed that under the Board’s Medical Support Policy 10,563 beneficiaries had been provided free Outdoor and Indoor medical treatment at the Super Speciality Hospital, Kakryal during April 16, 2016 -October 31, 2017 at the cost of Rs. 3,62,37,244 which was borne by the Board. Of the total, 686 patients were provided free Indoor medical treatment at this hospital which cost Rs. 2,12,12,345.
Giving details, the CEO stated that of the total beneficiaries, 250 pilgrims received free IPD treatment at the SSH Kakryal at a cost of Rs. 1,04,06,022 borne by the Board. He recalled that prior to the establishment of SSH Kakryal pilgrims who met with an accident or fell ill had to be referred to GMC, Jammu, if the required treatment facilities were not available at CHC Katra.
After the setting up of Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal, by the Shrine Board, all the pilgrims having ailments or injuries during their pilgrimage are now being transported in the Board’s ambulances to the SSH Kakryal for prompt treatment. Due to the ready availability of the superspeciality care at SSH Kakryal the lives of many pilgrims have been saved which may not have been easily possible earlier. In some cases pilgrims requiring urgent medical attention were airlifted to the hospital at the Board’s expense.
The Shrine Board extended financial assistance of Rs. 82,94,233 to 119 poor and needy patients under its Arogya Yojna, which is a scheme for providing gratuitous relief for poor patients. 268 families of land owners of the four surrounding villages of Sira, Kakryal, Kotla and Sool, who parted with their lands for the establishment of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and the Hospital, were provided free medical treatment amounting to Rs. 2,67,895. 114 villagers of the area were also provided free OPD consultancy at the Hospital.
Employees of the Shrine Board and their dependents were provided free cashless OPD and IPD treatment at the SSH Kakryal in 9256 cases amounting to Rs. 1,67,51,692 while students of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi College of Nursing, Kakryal in 473 cases and the students of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul, Charan Paduka, Katra in 83 cases, were provided free cashless treatment at the hospital amounting to Rs. 3,90,070 and Rs. 1,27,332 respectively.
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