Mehbooba takes up people's problems, seeks report on doctors' availability in rural areas

SRINAGAR: Following up the grievances as told to her by public of five districts she had visited in past five weeks in her 'public outreach programme', Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Monday taking notice to the grim situation of health facilities across the state, particularly the non-availability of specialist doctors in the far flung and rural areas, sought a status report within a week's time from the concerned Department.
The chief minister sought posting of requisite staff at the places where they are needed the most, besides directing the education department to fill up the vacant positions of teachers in Ramban district where she had visited last Saturday.
Mehbooba Mufti, it may be recalled, has recently visited districts of Ramban, Kargil, Kupwara, Pulwama and Budgam during her public outreach programmes in which people had complained of non availability of doctors at the health centres in the far flung and distant areas.
On Monday, Chief Minister convened a meeting to strengthen the availability of doctors and medical facilities in rural and far flung areas following her feedback from people who met her in different parts of the state.
The Chief Minister directed taking action against the doctors who do not report to duty in these areas. Besides, she also directed strengthening of the facilities by way of diagnostic equipment, ambulances and other testing facilities at the hospitals in rural and far flung areas.
Mehbooba Mufti also directed proper and adequate strengthening of district hospitals by way of posting of specialist doctors, in particular gynaecologists, anaesthetists and paediatricians.
She said strengthening of district hospitals would provide a one stop healthcare facility to people from all across in the district on one side, it would also enable lessening the burden on tertiary care hospitals in capital cities, thereby relieving patients of travelling long distances for treatment.
The Chief Minister directed construction and proper maintenance of residential quarters for doctors at District and Sub District Hospitals. For this, she directed preparation of a proto type design with all the facilities of a decent living to be replicated all across.
She said that till such time these residential quarters are ready, adequate rented accommodation be provided to specialist doctors to stay put at these places.
Minister for Finance, Dr. Haseeb Drabu; Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat and Minister of State for Health & Medical Education, Asiea Naqash, Chief Secretary, B. B. Vyas; Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Principal Secretary, Health & Medical Education, Pawan Kotwal and other senior officers were present in the meeting.
In a related follow up action on her public outreach programme at Ramban and Banihal two days ago, the Chief Minister has asked the Minister for Education to speed up the process of filling up of posts of Teachers, Masters and other vacancies in Education Department in the Ramban District. The people at Ramban had complained to the Chief Minister of vacant positions in Education Department at these levels and sought filling up of the same to strengthen the learning process in the district.