Govt orders hospitals to strengthen emergency systems in J&K
Srinagar, May 15: With the situation settling down around the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) across J&K, the government has jumped onto the process of fortifying the healthcare delivery system as a step towards better disaster preparedness.
Medical teams that were deployed around the critical areas under shelling will not be recalled, a high-ranking official said.
He said that this was discussed and agreed upon by the attendees of a critical virtual meeting convened by Secretary of Health Syed Abid Rasheed Shah on Wednesday.
The official said it was communicated to officials in-charge of healthcare delivery in the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir and Jammu that the countrys healthcare system must remain on high alert. He said that the video conference was both ìurgent and forward-lookingî and meant to augment the response to a potential crisis in future.
We will be investing time and resources in preparedness and addressing vulnerabilities, the official said.
Following Operation Sindoor, the shelling around many parts of the LoC resulted in deaths and injuries.
The injured were mostly treated at District Hospital Poonch, with a few requiring referral to Government Medical Colleges (GMCs) nearby.
In Uri also, the injured were treated at GMC Baramulla.
The official said that while the healthcare delivery system exhibited sound preparedness for eventualities, the recent past provided the department with an opportunity to upgrade the disaster preparedness plan.
We have a robust network of hospitals, ambulances, and trained manpower in all areas of J&K, but we have been directed to review the availability of every essential requirement, another official, who requested anonymity, said.
The inventories are also being reviewed along with infrastructure, equipment, referral system, and manpower, the officials said.
They said the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department has cautioned against complacency, urging CMOs not to lower their guard.
There can be any unpredictable healthcare challenge, the officials said.
Following Operation Sindoor, Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo told Greater Kashmir that J&Ks healthcare delivery system was always in a crisis management mode.
We had the Pahalgam attack, we have road accidents that result in massive numbers of injuries, we have had such a violent past. The health system here is always geared up, she said.
On Wednesday, she called the healthcare sector the key priority of the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah-led government.
The health officials have now been tasked with submitting detailed reports on their findings of gaps and weak areas.
They said this might result in reallocating resources, disaster management training programmes for healthcare workers, and fast-tracking infrastructure upgrades in underserved areas.
