Calls for expansion of trauma, emergency and critical care services across health institutions
Kishtwar : Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo, Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the progress achieved under the Health Sector Reforms being implemented across Jammu and Kashmir over the past couple of years.
The meeting focused on reforms to enhance tertiary and secondary healthcare services in the Union Territory, with an emphasis on expanding medical education, improving digital health infrastructure, and increasing access to specialized treatment facilities. Key attendees included health officials, directors of medical institutions, and representatives from various healthcare organizations. The Chief Secretary highlighted the progress made in establishing collaborative frameworks among healthcare institutions, which aim to strengthen specialty services, capacity building, and digital healthcare delivery. He stressed the importance of critical care, trauma care, and emergency medicine as essential components of quality patient care and healthcare outcomes. The Chief Secretary directed that the benefits of reforms should extend beyond newly established Government Medical Colleges to include District and Sub-District Hospitals, ensuring equitable healthcare access across the region. Support for innovative healthcare initiatives was assured, with a call for the expansion of Virtual Medical Boards and the introduction of online teaching platforms to enhance professional development in peripheral healthcare institutions. A clear framework for roles and responsibilities was recommended to improve accountability, alongside a robust monitoring and evaluation mechanism to assess healthcare services and institutional performance. The meeting also set measurable milestones for healthcare services, medical education, and research over the next two years. Proposals for increasing medical education capacity, including additional MBBS and super-specialty seats, were discussed, with several already under review by regulatory bodies. The operationalization of Tele-MANAS and tele-psychiatry services, along with a comprehensive Substance Use Disorder service framework, was highlighted as a significant advancement in mental health care. The establishment of the J&K Research Consortium was announced, aimed at fostering collaborative research among key medical institutions. Additionally, the meeting addressed the implementation of Tele-ICU and Tele-Radiology services to enhance critical care and specialist support in remote areas. Efforts in food safety were also reviewed, noting the adjudication of over 1,700 cases and significant penalties imposed, alongside advancements in laboratory infrastructure. Future initiatives in mental health, liver transplant services, and dental healthcare were discussed, with collaborations underway to improve specialty care. The Chief Secretary reiterated the goal of providing accessible, affordable, and high-quality healthcare services to all citizens, emphasizing the need for sustained reforms that leverage technology, research, and institutional collaboration to transform the healthcare landscape in Jammu and Kashmir.
