Minister for Health and Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today laid foundation stone of 100 bedded Sub District Hospital at Kot Bhalwal to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs.21.93 crore by J&K Project Construction Corporation Limited (JKPCC). Director Health Services, Jammu, Dr. B. S. Pathania, Director Mission NHM, Dr Mohan Singh, General Manager, JKPCC, N. D. Khawaja, Dy. General Manager, Satish Bhagat, CMO Jammu, senior Doctors, Engineers of concerned departments Sarpanches, Panches, a large number of ASHA workers and locals were also present on the occasion. Addressing the gathering, the Minister congratulated the people for having this vital project in their area. He said that the 3-storey 100 bedded Sub District Hospital will be completed within 3 years, benefitting a population of 40,000 of block -Kote Bhalwal and its adjoining areas. Bali called for close coordination between health functionaries and executing agency for expeditious completion of the hospital. He reiterated the resolve of the Government of according utmost priority to the patient care in the Government hospitals and other associated hospitals in the State. He called upon the medical fraternity to work as a team to extend best healthcare to the people, adding that ASHAs and other field functionaries can jointly serve this purpose well. He asked the department to hold seminars, workshops and awareness camps to educate the masses about health and hygiene to prevent diseases. The Minister said that the medical fraternity bears more responsibility to deal with a very sensitive issue of healthcare and well being of human kind. “The State is fast progressing on the front of health services and the day is not far when the people even in far of villages would be able to avail specialized consultancy at their doorsteps”, he said. Listing the measures taken by the Government to enforce transparency in working of Health Department, he informed that a specific colour strip has been embossed on all the medicine supplied to the Government hospitals to differentiate the same from the similar medicines available in market. Bali said the Government has already implemented the free drug policy for the patients in the Government hospitals from June 2016. He underlined the need for improving the overall health infrastructure in the State by mobilizing the available resources.
