Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 7: The head of the Expert Panel formed on the directions of the High Court today arrived here to begin the high-level visit of major hospitals across Kashmir division and ascertain the availability of the healthcare facilities being provided to the people.
Dr Yogesh Chawla, retired Director PGIMER, Chandigarh who is heading both the committees tasked to review the facilities both in Kashmir and Jammu was received by the officials of the Health Department and is staying at tourist resort of Pahalgam till Sunday.
On Monday, as per the officials, Dr Chawla will be joined by other members of the committee which includes former Principal, GMC, Srinagar and ex-Director, SKIMS, Soura to begin its visit.
On the same day, which is August 9, the expert committee will visit the Government Medical College (GMC), Anantnag and upon their return, the expert committee will drive directly to the SKIMS, Soura where the availability of the healthcare facilities will be reviewed as per the mandate given to it by the High Court.
After its culmination of the visit to the SKIMS, Soura, there is a meeting scheduled at the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir on the same day where the committee will be briefed about the overall functioning of the peripheral healthcare in Kashmir and the healthcare facilities available there.
On the next day, August 10, the Committee is also expected to meet Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha as well as Chief Justice J&K, Justice Pankaj Mithal, while as the appointment for the meeting has been already been fixed with the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo.
Further, on the same day, the Committee will compile the findings of their visit and is set to depart on Wednesday, August 11.
The other members that will also join the head of the Panel include Dr Ravi Gupta, Medical Superintendent Govt. Medical College and Hospital Sector 32, Chandigarh, Dr Kaiser Ahmed, ex-Principal Government Medical College, Srinagar, Dr Showket Zargar, Retired Director, Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences.
It is to be noted here Dr Chawla will be heading both the Committees formed for the Kashmir and Jammu divisions while the Directors of Health Services, Kashmir and Jammu, will work as the Member Secretaries of the Committees.
For Jammu division, the committee consists of Dr Yogesh Chawla, Retired Director PGIMER, Chandigarh, Dr Ravi Gupta, Medical Superintendent Govt. Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh, Dr H L Goswami, Retired Principal, Govt. Medical College, Jammu, Dr Rattan P Kudyar, Retired Associate Professor, (Endocrinologist), Govt. Medical College, Jammu, Director, Health Services, Jammu and Principal, Government Medical College, Jammu
Pertinent to mention here, the members of the committees will be paid the fee according to the guidelines of the Medical Council of India for the inspections, while the facilities during the stay will be provided by the Government of J&K Union Territory.
Upon the culmination of the visit to healthcare facilities in Kashmir as well as Jammu, the Panel will submit its recommendations vis-a-vis the availability of the facilities as well as shortcomings, if any, in its report.
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