Govt keen to promote ISM treatment in State: Lal Singh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 28:Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Ch Lal Singh today said the Government is keen to promote treatment   through   Indian System of Medicines (ISM) in the state.
“ISM is our heritage and every effort will be made to modernize the health institutions providing this system of treatment with adequate staff and infrastructure so as to provide the alternative choice of treatment to the people”, the Minister said at a function organised by Directorate of ISM.
Director General ISM, Dr. Abdul Kabir Dar, senior officers of ISM including large number of paramedics were present on the occasion.
Ch Lal Singh said that ISM facilities would be provided to the people at par with Kerala State. He asked the ISM authorities to ensure that no drug sub-outlets are operative on proxy basis anywhere in the State and ordered that drug shops should only run by license holders issued by the competent authority of the organization.
The Minister directed field functionaries to keep close vigil on sale of spurious drugs in the markets especially in rural drug shops where such practices are more common.   “Spurious drugs and proxy drug outlets will be seized and guilty persons booked under the law”, he said.
Ch Lal Singh also stressed on lifting of samples of variety edibles in the markets for testing to ensure that no adulteration is made in them which harms the health of the people. He directed that such manufacturers and shopkeepers should be fined and booked, adding that their units should be sealed and licenses canceled.
For upgrading the ISM (AYUSH) in the State, the Minister informed that various new initiatives have been taken in the last two months in this direction. He said Government has released Rs. 26 crore for construction of 100-bedded Ayurvedic Hospital and College at Akhnoor, adding that the college and hospital will be completed by June this year with latest technology equipments.
The Minister emphasized upon the authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment facilities for people at the ISM hospitals, adding that it should be strictly ensured that patients get free of cost medicines and other health care facilities in these hospitals.
Ch Lal Singh informed that Government is planning to establish 50-bedded integrated AYUSH hospital in all the districts of the State. He said creation of manpower and strengthening of existing infrastructure will be taken up. He said National Institute of Medicinal plants will be established in the State.
Earlier, Ch Lal Singh received detailed appraisal of the different health care activities from Director General ISM and instructed the concerned functionaries to sensitize the people for availing this choice of treatment.