Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 8: In early 2016, before the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital, set up by the Shrine Board, was inaugurated by the Prime Minister, the Shrine Board formulated a policy for providing free treatment to the pilgrims to the Shrine who fall ill or meet with an accident.
In a report submitted today to Governor N. N. Vohra, Chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Ajeet Kumar Sahu, CEO of the Shrine Board, informed that during the past one year, since the operationalization of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital at Kakryal, April 2016 to 31 March 2017, 137 Yatris were provided free Outdoor and Indoor treatment at the SSH Kakryal at the cost of Rs. 43.15 lakh borne by the Board.
It is pertinent to recall that prior to the establishment of SSH Kakryal pilgrims who met with an accident or fell ill had to be referred to the Government Medical College, Jammu, if the required treatment facilities were not available at CHC Katra.
After the setting up of Superspeciality Hospital, Kakryal, by the Shrine Board, all Yatris having ailments or injuries during their pilgrimage are now being transported in the Board’s ambulances to the SSH Kakryal.
The CEO informed that due to the ready availability of superspeciality care at SSH the lives of many pilgrims have been saved which would not have been easily possible earlier. In some cases pilgrims requiring urgent medical attention were airlifted to SSH at the Board’s expense.
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