Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 14: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmad Khan today said that Government was keen to promote Indian system of treatment in the State and with this objective in mind five ISM Hospitals, 30 dispensaries involving Rs. 101 crore are being established across the State.
The Minister was speaking at an officers meeting of ISM Department, convened to review the physical and financial status of ongoing projects taken up under the flagship health scheme NRHM and State plan for up-gradation of ISM related infrastructure in the State here today.
The Health Minister asked the department to encourage the people to also avail this choice of treatment, as the Government has already setup ISM health centers at all State and District level hospitals, besides Primary Health Centers, where free medicines as well as other related facilities have been available free of cost for needy patients.
Director ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir, Mission Director, NRHM, Dr. Yashpaul Sharma and other senior officers of concerned departments attended the meeting.
The Health Minister emphasized upon the concerned authorities to ensure proper treatment facilities to at the ISM Hospitals, adding that it should be strictly ensured that patients get free medicines and other health care facilities kept available by the Government for them in these hospitals.
The Minister directed for time bound completion of under execution hospital buildings and asked the Director ISM to sort out the issues with concerned departments so that the work do not hamper.
Director, ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir gave detailed resume of physical and financial achievements registered by the department towards promotion of ISM treatment in the State. He said that about 40 lakh people have been treated in ISM health centers and hospitals during last 10 months of current fiscal. He said 2 AYUSH units have been set up at 396 PHCs providing the choices of treatment under one roof, besides treatment facilities like Panchkarma, Kasharsutra and regimental therapies have been made available for the patients in 2 Community Health Centers in Kupwara and Sarwal, Jammu. He said to provide Sowa Rigpa treatment facility to the people of Ladakh, 20 AMCHI practitioners have been engaged under NRHM there.