JK needs ambitious vision, futuristic roadmap in healthcare sector: Mehbooba

SRINAGAR, OCTOBER 26: Chief Minister, Ms Mehbooba Mufti Wednesday said that Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura needs to create an ambitious vision for delivering best healthcare to the patients.
The Chief Minister said this while chairing the 43rd Governing Body meeting of SKIMS held at SKICC here.
“During the recent law and order situation, the manner in which the medics and paramedics rose to the occasion and for days together ensured that proper medical care is given to the patients reflects high on their professionalism and reiterates the faith in this noble profession,” Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister who is also the Chairperson of the Governing Body said the faculty members of SKIMS are delivering quality patient care at par with other renowned institutions of the country, however, SKIMS needs further improvements viz a viz healthcare services to the poor, capacity building for nurses/doctors, treatment of various life threatening disease like cancer etc for which SKIMS needs to come up with a futuristic vision that will ensure best healthcare facilities for the people of the State.
Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat, Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, Chief Secretary, B R Sharma, Financial Commissioner Planning and Principal Secretary to CM, B B Vyas, Secretary Health, Mandeep Bhandari, Director SKIMS, Dr A G Ahangar, besides other members of Governing Body including Prof M S Khuroo, former Director SKIMS, Prof Puneet Dhar, Chairman, Gastrointestinal Surgery and Liver Transplant Services, AIIMS, Kochi, Kerala, Principal, GMC, Jammu, Principal, GMC, Srinagar, Principal, SKIMS, Medical College/ Hospital Bemina, Srinagar, Prof Khursheed Alam, HoD General Surgery, SKIMS, Prof Samia Rashid, Prof General Medicine, GMC Srinagar and Prof Altaf Ramzan, HoD Neurosurgery SKIMS were also present in the meeting.
In order to keep pace with recent advances and to update their knowledge and skills, the Chief Minister said that the SKIMS faculty members may be allowed a sabbatical leave of 1 year after every five years. She added that the faculty strength should not however be affected and needs to be maintained as per MCI regulations.
Regarding participation of the faculty members in National and International Conferences, the Chief Minister said that the norms of such participation and the duration should be looked into and preferably based on the criteria in vogue in other renowned institutions of the country like AIIMS, New Delhi.
On creation of Trauma-Emergency Medicine Centre at SKIMS to help decongest the present hospital and address issues regarding paucity of Operation Theatres and beds, the Chief Minister asked the Director SKIMS to work out the details and engage a professional consultancy for the purpose.
With regard to another important decision for installation of PET-CT Scanner for diagnosis of Cancer patients at SKIMS, the Chief Minister asked Director SKIMS to expedite the process so as to upgrade modern medical facilities for the people relieving them of travelling outside the state for this facility. It was informed that the matter has been taken up with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) authorities for the necessary approval. Meanwhile, Secretary Health was directed to follow up the matter with AERB.
Regarding construction of maternity hospital at SKIMS, the Chief Minister asked Financial Commissioner Planning, Development and Monitoring Department to seek status report from the executing agency ie JKPCC Ltd.
Perspective plan for establishment of State Cancer Institute at SKIMS which will have facility for 120 bedded IPD Block for cancer patients and Personnel Promotion Scheme Rules for faculty of SKIMS Medical College/ Hospital were also discussed in the meeting.
The Chief Minister also stressed that primary and secondary healthcare in the state needs to be strengthened so that there may be lesser burden on the tertiary care health institutions which could focus more on specialty care.
Regarding the new Governing Body, the Chief Minister said that a relatively young team has been selected to be on the board from the serving doctors who are supposed to be stakeholders and whose presence on the Governing Body shall add value to it.
Earlier, Director SKIMS gave a detailed presentation regarding the facilities and patient care being provided at the institute. He informed that to enhance the cancer treatment facilities at the institute Ward 2P for cancer surgery patients has been established and Linear Accelerator for providing Radiation Therapy to Cancer patients has been installed. He also presented the action taken report on the decisions taken in the 42nd Governing Body meeting of SKIMS.