Financial Commissioner, Health and Medical Education, Atal Dulloo, today chaired a meeting to review COVID containment and mitigation measures being taken up by hospitals of both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir.Secretary, Tribal Affairs Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, was also present in the meeting.Financial Commissioner had threadbare discussion on trend of daily cases being recorded, Covid testing capacity, district wise assessment of Covid surge and level of transmission in both the divisions, working of dedicated Covid hospitals, bed occupancy, oxygen inventory besides status of vaccination.Elaborating on initiatives being taken up by different agencies to provide succour to people in this hour of global crisis, he informed that Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) is constructing 500 bedded hospitals at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu and Reshi Pora in Budgam, Kashmir which is expected to be made functional within next 15 days. “This will greatly enhance the existing healthcare edifice in the Union Territory to cater to the people in distress due to prevailing pandemic”, he added.The meeting also discussed measures being taken up by the health authorities for providing sufficient infrastructure to healthcare institutions of J&K to combat COVID-19 spread and provide best possible facilities to patients.Financial Commissioner asked the Chief Mechanical Engineers of both the divisions to ensure speedy completion of oxygen generating plants being raised in Jammu and Kashmir divisions to meet people’s requirement on this account.Financial Commissioner emphasized upon the concerned to prioritize admission of Covid patients in their hospitals in a total comfortable and hassle free manner. He directed the hospital management to provide oxygen as per requirement of patient ensuring that no one suffer on this account. He informed that efforts are on to increase number of oxygen support beds in hospitals at Jammu as well as Kashmir in shortest possible time.He asked the Directors Health Services of both the divisions to provide every support regarding men and machinery besides other requisite equipments to make the hospitals function smoothly to serve the humanity.All Principles of GMCs informed the meeting about the present status and working of their district and associated hospitals besides elaborating on facilities being extended to patients in these hospitals during Covid pandemic. The meeting was attended by Mission Director National Health ,J&K, Director General, Health and Family Welfare, J&K, Managing Director JKMSCL, Director Health Services Jammu, Chief Engineer, Mechanical Jammu, Principal GMC Jammu , DG Planning and other concerned officers and officials while Commission Secretary Department of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Zubair Ahmed; Director SKIMS Soura, Srinagar; Principle GMCs Srinagar, Rajouri, Doda, Kathua, Anatnag and Baramulla; Director Health Kashmir and others participated through video conferencing.
