PM to virtually lay foundation stone of 13 CCBs; inaugurate 6 modified FSWs for J&K today

Jammu, Feb 24: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually lay foundation stone of 13 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs) spread across J&K and inaugurate six modified “Food Safety on Wheels”, dedicated for the Union Territory, along with various other mega projects including 5 AIIMS meant for different states and UTs, from Rajkot in Gujarat on Sunday.

The foundation-laying and inauguration of these mega projects in different parts of the country, including J&K, will be streamed live. In J&K, the main UT level event will be held at Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu in the presence of the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.

In Kashmir division, the main event will be streamed live at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Bemina while the district level events will be presided over by the concerned District Development Commissioners.

Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu Principal Dr Ashutosh Gupta, while speaking to Greater Kashmir, said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually lay the foundation stone of 13 Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), to be constructed at an approved cost of Rs 350.25 Cr. Out of them, 7 CCBs are approved at a cost of Rs 207.75 Cr under Pradhan Mantri-Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) while six CCBs are approved at a cost of Rs 142.50 Cr under Emergency COVID Response Plans-II (ECPR-II). Out of these CCBs, there will be a 100-bedded Critical Care Unit (CCU) to be set up alongside Chest Diseases Hospital (CSD) – an associated hospital of GMC, Jammu. Site for which has already been identified.”

He informed that in the Jammu division, foundation stones of 50-bedded CCUs would also be laid by the Prime Minister in GMC Rajouri; GMC Kathua; District Hospital Reasi and District Hospital Poonch.

“Besides, the Prime Minister will dedicate 6 FSWs of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) for J&K. As per official proposal, one each FSW- full-fledged lab well equipped with advanced facilities, will be operational for two rural districts in Kashmir and Jammu division and one each will be dedicated for Srinagar and Jammu districts. The objective is to address the issue of lack of food testing infrastructure in the remote area and also to spread awareness to the consumer and impart training to the general public and Food Business Operators including food vendors on various aspects of food safety and hygiene practices. These vans, though not part of our area of responsibility, too will be flagged off from GMC premises,” Dr Gupta informed.

Giving a brief background of the objective behind setting up Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), Dr Gupta said, “Necessity for independent Critical Care services was experienced during the COVID crisis when the functioning of general hospitals was badly affected. Since priority was to manage the COVID patients, this literally had stalled other services in the hospitals. Health-sector was not fully prepared to deal with the crisis. Taking cue from this experience, the Government of India had envisioned these Critical Care Blocks, comprising emergency, surgical and intensive care services to strengthen health system response with robust advanced infrastructure. They will have separate trauma, infection control facilities and mother-child care services.”

Dr Gupta informed that CCBs, as per plan, would have functional units for critical care including emergency area and ICU, isolation wards, OT, Labour-Delivery Rooms, with newborn care corner with support facilities like Imaging facility, dietary services etc.

With regard to FSWs, officials stated that Food Safety on Wheels (FSWs) and Microbiological Section established in various States and UTs including the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, would be out of the funds provided by FSSAI under MoU.

“The 6 FSWs have been procured for an amount of Rs 2.63 Cr sanctioned vide order No. S.O/Adv.(QA)/127/2021-22 dated January 4, 2022 with an initial amount of Rs 2.52 Cr and the operational expenses to the amount of Rs 30 lakh at the rate of Rs 5 lakh per FSW under MoU-Work plan for the FY 2022-23 on (90:10) Centre: UT share basis. All the 6 FSWs have been made operational by virtue of internal arrangement of drivers and analysts engaged on an outsource basis, out of remaining funds approved under the work plan for the state owned FSWs by the FSSAI,” they said.