Vivek Bharadwaj reviews proposals under Tribal Health Plan at a key meet in Jammu

Jammu  : Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Medical Education, Vivek Bharadwaj Thursday reviewed various proposals for Tribal Health Plan and directed for concerted efforts aimed at best healthcare facilities in tribal areas and coverage of transhumant population, in meeting of officers held here. He also reviewed status of healthcare plan formulation under IVDS and CTMV.
Secretary, Tribal Affairs, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Mission Director NHM, Yasin M Choudhary, Secretary, Advisory Board, Mukhtar Ahmed, Director Health Services, Jammu Dr Saleem ur Rehman, Director, Health Service Kashmir, Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Rather, Managing Director, JKMSCL Dr Yashpal Sharma, Jt Director Planning H&ME Rajeev Bhushan, Jt Director Planning, Tribal Affairs, Shama un Ahmed and other senior officers attended the meeting.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) directed for various initiatives under Tribal Health Plan and an overall Tribal Sub-Plan for the financial year 2022-23 for providing healthcare facilities in Dhoks, tribal villages and transit accommodations on various migratory routes. He asked for a dedicated support base for tribal population under the National Health Mission to facilitate ambulance services, treatment in hospitals, benefits of various schemes and training of youth from tribal communities.
He directed NHM and Medical Supplies Corporation for early procurement of Mobile Medical Units and Ambulances for tribal areas and migratory tribal population with dedicated service contract.
The ACS instructed the National Health Mission and Health Department for dedicated Aarogya Mitras to facilitate patients from tribal population, Tribal ASHAs for extending healthcare services in Dhoks, deputation of doctors and paramedic staff. He also asked for comprehensive plan for overall healthcare of tribal population with focus on transhumance.
Earlier, Secretary Tribal Affairs made a detailed presentation citing healthcare support and services required for more than 6 Lakh migratory transhumant tribal population and healthcare facilities in tribal areas.
He informed that Tribal Affairs Deptt has released Rs 14.50 Cr under the 1st Tribal Health Plan for procurement of Mobile Medical Units, Ambulances as well as machinery and equipment for migratory population and in Cluster Tribal Model Villages.
A fleet of 30 ambulances has also been approved for tribal villages. He briefed about 367 villages and 168 Dhoks to be covered under the Integrated Village Development Scheme (IVDS) with a specialised health plan. Proposals related to healthcare facilities in hostels and EMRS, deputation of tribal youth for training, screening and health research projects were also discussed.
Mission Director NHM, Yasin M Choudhary made a presentation about the Tribal Health Plan for coverage of hospitals, villages and Dhoks by providing a holistic healthcare support system for tribal population. He also briefed about operation of MMUs and ambulances under the tribal health plan.
Director, Health Services Jammu, discussed about the plan for providing dedicated health teams and community participation.
Director, Health Services, Kashmir Dr Mushtaq discussed about deputation of doctors and paramedical staff for migratory population while as JDP H&ME Rajeev Bhushan shared about database of tribal educated youth for medical and technical training courses.