Excelsior Correspondent
LEH, May 31: Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat on his maiden visit to Leh district today inaugurated the Surgical and Diagnostic Block of SNM Hospital.
Dr. Sonam Dawa Lonpo, CEC LAHDC, Nawang Rigzin Jora, MLA, Dorjey Mutup, EC Works, Prasanna Ramaswamy, DC Leh, Dr. Saleem-ur-Rehman, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Councilors, Upper Leh, Lower Leh, Chuchul, CMO Leh, MS SNM Hospital Leh, doctors and other medical staff were also present on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Bhagat said that during the past over four decades the Ladakh region has faced apathy of previous regimes and lacked development in all sectors. He said the present Government is committed to ensure equitable development of all three regions of the State without any disparity. He said that Jammu and Kashmir is not self-sustenance in absence of revenue generation and the lack of private enterprise, which is a major reason for its slow pace of developmental.
The Minister assured to further address the needs with regard to the upgradation of health infrastructure and diagnostic facilities in Leh. He said he will review the overall health scenario in Srinagar with the concerned officers and take all necessary steps to improve it at the grass root level. He issued on-the-spot instructions to the Director Health to immediately depute a critical care ambulance for Leh district to tackle the emergencies. He also assured to post back all the Ladakhi doctors posted in the Valley to Leh soon to augment the services in Ladakh region.
The Minister also visited different blocks of the hospital including ICU, neo-natal intensive care unit, operation theatre, surgical ward, surgical OPD, tourist ward and interacted with the patients.
The CEC demanded special funds for construction of an exclusive tourist ward with staff and provision of additional medicines and diagnostic facilities as Leh being the tourist hub. He urged the Minister to restore the directorial power to DC Leh and delegate him with the authority to conduct direct recruitments at his level to fill the vacant posts in all the departments.
Nawang Rigzin Jora endorsed CEC’s demand and further raised the issue of paucity of fund under State sector for development of physical infrastructure in Leh. CEC also stressed to get the trauma centre sanctioned in Khaltsi and a Medical College on priority to Leh.
CMO Dr. Yangchan briefed the Minister about the problems faced by Health Department.
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