J&K to get 2 medi-cities, recruit 800 new doctors

TNN Bureau. Updated: 9/15/2019 12:44:52 PM Front Page

In first meeting post 370, SAC focus on healthcare | 25 new Jan Aushadhi, 16 AMRIT Pharmacy Stores soon

JAMMU: In a far reaching decision aimed at bettering the healthcare facilities in the State, the State Administrative Council (SAC)—equivalent to cabinet in popular government, on Saturday approved the 'Policy Document' for setting up of two medi-cities in Jammu and Kashmir even as green signal has been given to the revenue department to identify and transfer the land for those.

The SAC, which met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, also approved enhancement in strength of medical officers to pave way for fresh recruitment of nearly 800 doctors besides opening 41 new Jan Aushadhi and retail pharmacy stores.

The Health and Medical Education Department will be the Nodal department for implementation of the Medi-Cities project, which would give a major boost to the health care delivery system in Jammu and Kashmir.

The policy document underlines detailed procedure for establishing the medi-cities including its scope and facilities, responsibilities of investors or promoters and various operational modalities.

The facilities expected in the Medi- Cities includes Medical Colleges & Hospitals, Super Specialty Centres of Excellence, Nursing, Pharmaceuticals, Hospital Management and Dental Colleges, Ayurvedic Colleges and Hospitals and Medical Education Hubs , AYUSH Centers, Research Centers with residential areas, staff quarters and guest houses etc.

The state administration would invite private partners to set up the medi-cities and would notify identified geographies in the Jammu and Kashmir divisions.

"The private investor will be required to design, finance, construct, equip the medi-city with necessary medical and non-medical infrastructure and run and maintain the facility," the official said.

"The state administration will support in providing land, financial aid and assistance subject to the 'State Health Care Investment Policy-2019," he added.

He further said that the government would also facilitate fast clearance of project proposals through a web based single window system allowing investors to avail the necessary approvals to establish and start their business operations through a single platform without any physical touch point with the approving or licensing authorities.

An Apex Level Project Clearance Committee (ALPCC) will be set up by the Health and Medical Education Department for speedy clearance of the project proposals, he said.

With a view to promoting healthcare infrastructure in J&K, government in the month of March approved the 'State Health Care Investment Policy-2019'.
The policy offers various incentives to the private investors and entrepreneurs to set up health care facilities that aim at improving accessibility of people to quality health services including promotion and establishment of hospitals and medical and allied educational institutions.

The policy also envisages declaration of well defined geographical areas having potential and being conducive for development as medi-city to promote medical tourism in J&K.

In another major decision, the SAC also accorded sanction to the enhancement of posts under training reserve from existing 6 per cent to 20 per cent and deputation reserve from existing 4 per cent to 20 per cent of the duty posts in respect of medical officers in the Jammu and Kashmir Health and Family Welfare (Gazetted Service).

The sanctioned strength of the posts of medical officers is 3781 comprising 3151 duty posts and 630 reserve posts, he said. With the increase in the reserve posts, he said the sanctioned strength of the post of medical officers will raise to 4726 posts.

Consequently, more than 800 posts of medical officers would accrue for reference to J&K Public Service Commission for recruitment.

The recruitment against these posts would help the department to operate the health institutions situated in peripheral and far-flung areas, the spokesman said.

It is noteworthy to mention that the Health and Medical Education Department is one of the essential services department and the Medical Officers are the cutting edge level functionaries constituting the backbone of the department.

The recruitment of Medical Officers will also help to provide manpower in the sister organizations where the Medical officers required to be posted on deputation from the Health & Medical Education Department. This will also provide opportunities to the Medical Officers to acquire such skills/training which would help them to further their career and in the process augment the health care system across J&K. This will also help in the smooth functioning of the newly established Government Medical Colleges, he said.

In another decision, the SAC announced that 41 new medical stores--25 ‘Jan Aushadhi Medical Stores’ and 16 AMRIT Retail Pharmacy Stores would be opened in Jammu and Kashmir as it reviewed the progress of implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojna Kendra (PMBJPK) and Affordable Medicines and Reliable Implants for Treatment (AMRIT) initiative.

Under PMBJPK, till now, 57 stores have been opened in the state, out of which 45 are being run successfully by private entrepreneurs.

Opening of additional 25 stores is in the pipeline, the official said.

The PMBJPK works with the objective of providing quality medicines at affordable and lesser prices to the general masses.

Similarly, the spokesperson said the sites for 16 AMRIT retail pharmacy stores have been identified in various districts and the MoU has been signed between the intending health institutions of Jammu and Kashmir provinces and HLL Life Care Limited, New Delhi for the purpose.

The stores would come up at GMC Jammu, SMGS Hospital, Super Specialty Hospital Jammu, Govt. Dental College Jammu, GMC Rajouri, GMC Doda & GMC Kathua in Jammu Division and SMHS Hospital Srinagar, L.D Hospital, Bone & Joint Hospital, SKIMS (near OPD & Emergency Block), Super Specialty Hospital, GMC Baramulla & GMC Anantnag in Kashmir Division.

These stores will provide generic and life saving branded drugs under one roof, he said.
The AMRIT scheme aims to provide affordable medicines & implants for treatment of Cancer, Cardio Vascular and other diseases and the AMRIT Retail Pharmacy network offers more than 5200 drugs, implants, surgical disposables and other consumables at an average discount upto 60% of MRP through 136 outlets across 22 states.


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