Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has said despite the challenges of Covid, Conflict and Climate Change, India has achieved several milestones in health parameters for all the citizens. The reflection of the country’s achievements is also visible in the transformation taking place in the health sector of Jammu Kashmir.
He rightly observed that the most valuable investment is to ensure health for all.
According to him, the administration was making earnest efforts to provide accessible, affordable and quality healthcare to every citizen.
He referred to “robust” public health infrastructure in J&K and Universal Health Insurance Coverage, Digital health services to ensure an improved public health delivery system.
The use of modern technology has surely impacted diagnosis, treatment and patient monitoring systems in a positive manner.
In order to meet the endeavour, the government should also fill up the vacancies.
Pertinently, the government informed the High Court of J&K and Ladakh in July this year that there are 5876 posts of doctors, non-gazetted and Class IV Employees vacant in the Health and Medical Education Department in Jammu division and Kashmir Valley.
In respect of the Jammu Division, it said, the total sanctioned strength of Medical Officers for all districts is 1390 posts of which 726 posts are in position and remaining 664 posts are lying vacant. Similarly, in respect of non-gazetted and Class IV Employees in Jammu Division out of sanctioned strength 6868, only 4379 are filled up with the remaining 2489 vacant.
On the other hand in respect of Kashmir Division total sanctioned strength of Medical Officers is 1467, out of which 1395 are in position and only 72 are lying vacant. Similarly, in case of non-gazetted and Class IV Employees in Kashmir Division, out of sanctioned strength of 8628 posts, 5976 are in position and 2651 are lying vacant.
Due to the government’s consistent efforts, the Lieutenant Governor earlier this year said, today J&K has one of the best public health care facilities in the country. The administration is working with sensitivity to ensure the common man has access to quality healthcare and the government’s performance on 10 health parameters are better than national average, which is a testimony to commitment of quality of life and transformation in the health sector of J&K, the Lieutenant Governor had said.
Accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for every citizen should remain a priority and the statement by the Lieutenant governor is reassuring in this context.
