Amarnath Yatra: No compromise on safety, healthcare of pilgrims: Sakeena Itoo
Sonamarg, Jun 16: Asserting that there shall be no compromise on the safety and healthcare of the Amarnath yatris, Health and Medical Education Minister Sakeena Itoo on Monday said the government has set up adequate healthcare facilities to ensure proper medical arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra.
The Minister conducted a comprehensive review of arrangements for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra 2025 during her visit to Sonamarg and base camp Baltal in Ganderbal district. Speaking to media persons at Sonamarg after chairing a high-level meeting with senior district officials and representatives from key departments to review the Yatra arrangements, the Health Minister said that the government is committed to ensure better healthcare facilities for the upcoming Amaranth Yatra so that the pilgrims don’t face any inconvenience.
“I came here today to review the medical arrangements, how many doctors are available, how many more are to come from outside, what kind of medicines are stocked, how many camps and ambulances are ready, everything has been checked,” she said.
The Minister said the main focus is to make sure that the pilgrims do not face any difficulties during their journey. “ Every camp has been provided with more doctors than required. The hospitals designated for the yatra already have sufficient staff and those gaps that existed earlier have been filled,” she added. Itoo said that significant improvements have been made in the healthcare system since the formation of the current government. “Since the day this government was formed under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, we received appointment orders for 600 doctors. These doctors have been sent to remote areas,” she said. Acknowledging that there are still a few challenges, especially related to consultants, Sakina said that have many MBBS doctors, but the shortage is mainly of consultants because some of them go for higher studies or PG. “We, however have referred the matter to the board and are working to fill these gaps,” the Minister added.
Minister holds medical review
Earlier, the minister held a comprehensive review of medical preparedness for the upcoming yatra during her visit to Sonamarg, said an official press release. Chairing a high-level meeting of the Health Department officials, the Minister was briefed by the Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Jahangir Bakshi, about the overall medical strategy for smooth conduct of SANJY-2025.
Health Minister directed the health authorities to ensure that all medical arrangements are in place well before the commencement of the Yatra. “There shall be no compromise on the safety and healthcare of the yatris,” she stated. The meeting, among others, was attended by MLA Kangan, Mian Mehar Ali; Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore; Director Health Services Kashmir, Director Family Welfare MCH & Immunization J&K, Director Ayush, CMO Ganderbal, and other senior officials from the Health Department and district Administration. Later, the Minister visited the Baltal Base Camp Hospital.
