SRINAGAR: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed today ordered setting up of pilot 'Model Peripheral Hospitals' in all districts of the state which would help in upgrading healthcare infrastructure in remote areas to ensure better public delivery.
"A well-defined healthcare system has to be in place to cater to the needs of people in villages, towns and cities. The availability of doctors and paramedical staff in hospitals
is as important as modernisation of health centres," Sayeed said chairing a high-level review meeting of the Health and Medical Department here.
Stressing upon optimal utilisation of existing infrastructure to save costs on civil construction, Sayeed said the prime objective should be to convert community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs) into Model Hospitals with main focus on providing maternity and childcare services at the primary level.
"The government will approach Centre for funding, once the pilot projects are up and running," he said, while insisting upon making healthcare accessible, affordable and qualitative.
In order to reduce referrals and decentralise emergency and casualty management system, the Chief Minister also issued directions for upgrading three district hospitals in each division by providing additional manpower, particularly in gynaecology and obstetrics, anaesthesia, paediatrics, orthopaedics, general surgery, medicine and radiology.
He asked the Health Department to work out the financial implications and prepare a comprehensive proposal for funding by the Finance Department.
Under the Model Hospital Plan, the government envisages augmentation of manpower in peripheral healthcare centres by adding five consultants and three medical officers.