Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 10: Minister of State for Health, Shabir Ahmed Khan today asked the Drug and Food Control Organization (D&FCO) to explore the possibility to rope in registered Private Labs for testing the Government Hospital Supply medicines including injections.
The Minister issued the directions while chairing a meeting convened to review the functioning of health institutions and implementation of the health schemes, including flagship National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Jammu region, here today.
He directed Drug and Food Organization for exploring the possibility of getting the drugs/injections tested before these are supplied to the hospitals for the patients, adding that possibility of getting drugs tested from the registered private labs should also be explored.
The Minister said that health sector has been flagged as the priority sector by the Government and efforts are on to upgrade health infrastructure and bring more transparency and accountability in the working of health institutions in the State.
The Health Minister noted that people living in border and remote areas are poor and it is difficult for them to come to urban health centers. He said it is important that health centers operating in these areas are provided adequate staff and equipments. He said NRHM is a flagship mission and its proper implementation in rural areas would go a long way in addressing the health care needs of the people.
The Minister directed Chief Medical Officers and Block Medical Officers not to leave their stations without seeking prior permission from the higher authorities and ensure that the health institution under their control function smoothly. He cautioned that any negligence in patient care would be viewed seriously. He instructed them to furnish the lists for setting up of new health centers in their districts, keeping in view the set norms in this regard.
Director ISM, Dr Abdul Kabir, Director, Health Services, Jammu, Dr Madhu Khullar, Director NRHM, Dr Yashpaul Sharma, Chief Medical Officers and Superintendents of Hospitals of all districts, Deputy Directors Health Services, Jammu, senior officers of Drug and Food Control Organization, Health services, Family Welfare were among others who attended the meeting.
Stressing the need to bring more improvement in the working of health institutions, the Minister instructed timely procurement of quality essential drugs as per drug policy with a preference for generic drugs and added the distribution of drugs and supplies to health institutions should be made on the basis of case load in each health institutions.
The Minister directed CMOs that utilization certificates of the amount incurred under NRHM should be submitted to the Government well in time for release of next installments from the Centre. He also directed for ensuring time-bound completion of all on-going health projects taken up under Centre and State Plans in the State.
The Minister instructed that no attachments of doctors or para-medical staff should be made in any district without specific justification and directed concerned CMOs to submit lists of total strength of sanctioned posts of doctors showing the vacant posts district wise for taking further action by the Government.
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