Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today chaired meeting to review the functioning of Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy Department.
The Minister assessed the position of medical supplies and directed the concerned officers to ensure adequate stocking of medicines, with special focus on rural areas.
“There is need to expand the outreach of ISM, especially to benefit the people in rural areas who have limited access to medical facilities”, the Minister directed. He asked the department to promote the unique preventive care methods of ISM among the masses.
He directed the concerned officers to make available all the instruments required for healthcare units. The issue of enhancing Hospital Development Fund (HDF) was also discussed in the meeting.
The Minister asked the concerned officers to submit district wise comprehensive progress report of newly created ISM institutes to his office.
He also reviewed the progress of ongoing Ayurvedic College project and directed the executing agency to expedite the work. He directed for appointing required faculty and staff to start the academic session on time. He also called for working out an affordable fee structure for the admissions.
Discussing issues of employees of the department, the Minister assured that all the genuine demands of Assistant District Medical Officers (ADMO) will be redressed. In this regard, the Minister directed senior authorities for necessary action.
Later, the Minister handed over ‘Initial Trauma Management Course’ certificates to the newly trained batch. The course was jointly organized by Government Medical College and Directorate of Health Services in collaboration with International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).
Commissioner Secretary Health and Medical Education, Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Director, Health Services Jammu, Dr Gurjeet Singh, Mission Director, NHM, Dr Mohan Singh, Principal, Dental College, Dr. Romesh Singh, Deputy Director, ISM Jammu, Dr. Devinder Gupta and senior functionaries of ISM Department attended the meeting.