Aayog assures full support for its time bound implementation
Jammu: In a major push towards strengthening and expanding healthcare delivery across Jammu and Kashmir, a comprehensive roadmap for health sector reforms was Thursday discussed by the Health & Medical Education Department with Dr. V.K. Paul, Member, NITI Aayog, in the presence of Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo.
The high-level interaction focused on strategic interventions, technological integration, academic collaboration, and capacity augmentation aimed at ensuring equitable, accessible, and quality healthcare services across all districts of the UT.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary, Health & Medical Education Department; Managing Director, National Health Mission; Director, SKIMS; Principals of Government Medical Colleges; Executive Director, SMVDIME; Director Health Services, Jammu/Kashmir; CEO, State Health Agency, besides other senior officers.
Dr. V.K. Paul from NITI Aayog emphasized the organization’s commitment to enhancing institutional capacities and human resources in Jammu & Kashmir’s healthcare sector. He recommended implementing a hub-and-spoke model for healthcare expansion, assigning specific roles and responsibilities to institutions to ensure structured execution and timely progress towards set goals. Dr. Paul advocated for a flexible, collaborative framework that encourages institutions to share support and adopt best practices nationally. He urged the Department to explore advanced healthcare facilities, including Eye Banks and improved Emergency and Trauma Care services, beyond the high-level committee’s initial Terms of Reference. Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo sought strategies from NITI Aayog to retain senior faculty in medical colleges, attract external talent, and extend specialized healthcare services to remote areas. He acknowledged NITI Aayog’s pivotal role in recent health sector reforms, which led to an increase in postgraduate and MBBS seats in J&K medical colleges. Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Secretary Health & Medical Education Department, provided an overview of initiatives following consultations with Dr. Paul, highlighting progress in tertiary healthcare services and governance frameworks. Key interventions discussed included the rollout of Tele-ICU services in government hospitals and the implementation of Tele-Radiology to address diagnostic gaps in underserved areas. The establishment of new departments in dentistry and oral surgery was also considered. A high-level committee was formed to develop collaborative models among major healthcare institutions, focusing on various specialties and enhancing training capacities. The Department requested NITI Aayog’s assistance in designating District Hospitals as Associated Hospitals of Government Medical Colleges to improve clinical exposure. Discussions also covered strengthening drug de-addiction and mental health initiatives, with a draft action plan titled “Circle of Care” submitted for consideration. Additionally, NITI Aayog facilitated training for transplant teams from the Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences, supporting the establishment of liver transplant facilities in the UT. The meeting concluded with a commitment from NITI Aayog to continue guiding and supporting the transformation of J&K’s healthcare landscape through technology, academic collaboration, and capacity building, ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for all citizens.
