Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 10: Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, today held an extensive interaction with Secretary, Health and Family Welfare (H&FW), Government of India, Punya Salila Srivastava, to deliberate on avenues for strengthening health infrastructure and upgrading healthcare services across Jammu and Kashmir.
At the outset, the Chief Secretary conveyed his gratitude to the Ministry for enhancing MBBS intake capacity in several medical colleges of the Union Territory.
The meeting reviewed progress on centrally sponsored key construction projects, the introduction of specialization courses such as MD/MS, DM/MCH, and DNB in newly established medical colleges, and the proposal for increasing 50 MBBS seats in other colleges that had applied. Discussions also focused on extending support for strengthening tertiary care facilities in the recently established Government Medical Colleges (GMCs).
The Chief Secretary further sought the Ministry’s intervention in expediting the completion of AIIMS Awantipora and facilitating expansion of AIIMS Jammu. He assured full cooperation of the J&K administration in implementing all initiatives of the Ministry in the Union Territory.
The Union Health Secretary assured the Chief Secretary of sympathetic consideration and timely action on all the issues raised during the meeting.
Meanwhile, Chief secretary chaired a high-level review meeting to assess the functioning of the Food Safety Wing of the Drug & Food Control Organisation (DFCO) in the wake of recent seizures of rotten meat in various parts of the J&K.
Underscoring the critical importance of public health, the Chief Secretary stressed on strengthening the enforcement machinery coupled with effective surveillance and strict regulatory controls to guarantee safe and hygienic food supply across the UT.
He directed for intensification of inspections across all food businesses, particularly high-risk Food Business Operators (FBOs), and called for stricter deterrents against violators.
Highlighting the limitations of mere penalties, the Chief Secretary instructed that convictions, licence suspensions, and criminal proceedings be pursued vigorously to curb malpractices. He further directed formulation of a robust enforcement action plan to ensure comprehensive implementation of the Food Safety & Standards Act.
During the meeting, Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah outlined the mandate of the Drug & Food Control Organisation under the Food Safety & Standards Act.
Commissioner, FDA, Smita Sethi presented the performance highlights of the Organisation.
Later, Chief Secretary chaired a high-level meeting to review the status of major health infrastructure projects across Jammu and Kashmir. He stressed the need to accelerate the pace of ongoing works and ensure that all projects are completed and made fully functional during the forthcoming working season.
The Chief Secretary reviewed in detail the progress of the newly established seven medical colleges and their associated hospitals, assessing the physical status of college buildings, administrative blocks, hostels, residential quarters and the present status of their associated hospital complexes.
He also took a project-wise appraisal of infrastructure upgradation works in the older GMCs of Srinagar and Jammu. Key projects under review for GMC Srinagar included the additional block at LD Hospital, Theatre block at SMHS Hospital, Nursing and Boys Hostel at GMC Srinagar, and extension of the ENT Block.
He laid special emphasis on timely completion of the LD Hospital project, which has recently commenced and is being funded by the World Bank under the JTFRP, with a committed completion deadline of August 2026.
The Chief Secretary further directed that the two State Cancer Institutes at Jammu and Srinagar be made fully functional at the earliest by installing the requisite LINAC machines and other advanced equipment.
Reviewing health projects in Jammu, the Chief Secretary stressed on making the B&J Hospital of GMC Jammu fully operational with all mandated facilities. He also reviewed the functioning of Chopra Nursing Home, Construction of 243-bedded Labour Block at SMGS Hospital and upgradation works at Indira Gandhi Government Dental College (IGGDC) here.
Among other significant projects discussed wereIPD Block and College building at SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, 125-bedded hospital at Reshipora, Budgam, 50-bedded hospital at Sunderbani, Upgradation of SDH Nowshera to 100-bedded hospital, 100-bedded MCH at Lamberi, Rajouri, Upgradation of SDH Billawar to 100-bedded hospital, Additional 100-bedded IPD Block at DH Kishtwar, Homeopathic College and Hostel at Kathua, 243-bedded MCCH at Anantnag.
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