NEW DELHI, JUNE 29: Jammu and Kashmir Health Minister Sakeena Itoo on Monday strongly pitched for the early completion of AIIMS Awantipora at the 16th Conference of the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW), with Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda assuring that the project would be completed at the earliest and revealing that Rs 250 crore had recently been released for its execution.
Addressing the conference at Vigyan Bhawan, Sakeena Itoo said the AIIMS Awantipora project would revolutionise healthcare in the Kashmir Valley and urged the Centre to expedite its completion.
The conference was chaired by Union Health Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda and attended by Union Ministers of State for Health and Family Welfare, Health Ministers from all States and Union Territories, senior officials of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, and members of the CCHFW.
Besides seeking early completion of AIIMS Awantipora, the J&K Health Minister presented an overview of the flagship health programmes being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir and outlined the roadmap for achieving universal access to affordable, equitable and quality healthcare in the Union Territory.
She also sought the establishment of trauma hospitals at Surankote (Poonch) and Uri (Baramulla), saying these facilities were essential to handle medical emergencies during wars and natural calamities. She further demanded bulletproof ambulances for border areas to strengthen emergency medical response during conflict and other emergencies.
Sakeena Itoo also called for an enhancement in the honorarium of NHM employees and ASHA workers, stating that they form the backbone of the public healthcare system and that their honorarium has remained unchanged for the past 10 years.
The J&K Minister further sought an increase in PG and MD seats in medical institutions across Jammu and Kashmir to address the growing healthcare needs of the Union Territory. In response, the Union Health Minister asked her to submit a proposal, assuring that the Union Ministry would take the necessary action.
Nadda also asked the J&K Health Minister to submit the requirements for upgrading existing trauma hospitals and assured that the matter would be taken up on priority.
