Jammu : National Conference President and Member Parliament Dr Farooq Abdullah this evening spoke to the Union Minister for Health Dr Harsh Vardhan and raised the issue pertaining to ‘almost defunct’ health service in the Jammu region with hospitals running short of oxygen and ventilators amid alarming surge in COVID-19 cases.
In a tele-conversation, Dr Farooq Abdullah referred to the panic-like situation among people, who feel vulnerable in the absence of a credible health support system. He dwelt upon elaborately on inadequate allocation of bed strength for the pandemic cases and failure in setting up of make-shift hospitals to meet the most challenging situation. This could hugely impact the fight against coronavirus, resulting in insecurity among the people, who don’t know how the situation will shape in future on this front. He added.
The Union Health Minister assured Dr Farooq Abdullah that all necessary measures would be taken to strengthen the infrastructural facilities in the Jammu hospitals. He also apprised the MP from Srinagar about steps taken to meet the situation.
Dr Farooq Abdullah urged Mr Harsh Vardhan to ensure uninterrupted medical oxygen supply in all the health facilities and also explore the possibilities of adding to the bed-strength in the COVID dedicated wards in various hospitals. He stressed the need for synergy between various agencies in ensuring all necessary medical support to suffering people, which will eventually instill a sense of confidence among the people, who are apprehensive about the system.
Dr Farooq hoped that the medical support system would be upgraded on war-footing in Jammu and Kashmir in general and in the areas which lack facilities in particular on war footing. This is not the time to review and assess the situation but supplies need to be replenished and an emergency plan formulated to contain the spread of the virus, he added.
