Veeri calls for healthcare reforms

Jammu, Mar 13: Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Bijbehara Bashir Veeri Thursday called for healthcare reforms and appreciated Jammu and Kashmir’s medical fraternity.

A statement of the MLA issued here said that speaking during the discussion on Demand for Grants to Health, Medical Education, School Education, and Higher Education departments in the Legislative Assembly, Veeri appreciated the role of the medical fraternity including doctors, paramedics, and healthcare professionals.

He said that they were providing their services under challenging circumstances.

Veeri lauded the role played by the Health Department for demonstrating remarkable improvements in nearly all health indicators, surpassing those of other Indian states and the national average.

“My emphasis was on stabilising and strengthening the primary healthcare delivery system and enhancing capacity building at the secondary level so that our tertiary care institutions can focus on research-oriented, innovative, and high-quality management. The vision of our founding father, Sher-e-Kashmir (Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah) of transforming SKIMS into a hub for medical tourism should be realised. Additionally, research into the causes of the silent epidemic of cancer in our society needs to be prioritised,” he said.

Veeri urged accountability for referrals to higher medical centres and documentation of Lower Segment Caesarean Section (LSCS) on hospital files with proper justification and reasons.

He appealed to the Health Minister to upgrade SDH Bijbehara to a district-level specialised hospital with enhanced infrastructure and manpower.

“The PHC of Srigufwara, midway on the ancient Amarnath Yatra route, plays a pivotal role in the health delivery system and needs upgrading to an SDH. Posts for dental surgeons should be created,” Veeri said.

He requested the government to grant full-fledged university status to the South Kashmir campus of the University of Kashmir and demanded that Government Degree College (GDC), Anantnag, should be declared as a deemed university.

“Strategic investment in education should be prioritised, with an emphasis on constructing residential accommodations for teaching and non-teaching staff in all degree colleges across J&K. Additionally, tourism should be introduced as a subject at the 10+2 level in higher secondary schools, and the creation of posts for this stream should be initiated,” Veeri said.