JAMMU:  Minister for Health and Medical Education, Mr Bali Bhagat today informed the Legislative Assembly that the Government has established the Regional Institute of Health and Family Welfare (RIHFW) at Dhobiwan Tangmarg to provide in-house training to doctors, paramedical staff and other personnel working in all National Health Programmes like National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Programme for Control of Blindness, Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme, National Mental Health Programme, National Leprosy Eradication Programme etc.

Replying to a question by Mr Mohammad Abbas Wani, the Minister said that there is sufficient building infrastructure in the institution and presently there is no proposal for its up-gradation as a Nursing College. He further said that a state-of-art Kashmir Skill and Simulation Centre (KSSC) has been established at Regional Institute of Health and Family Welfare (RIHFW) at Dhobiwan Tangmarg to enhance the skills and competencies of health personnel (doctors and paramedics and other supportive staff) by formulating and conducting training programmes including Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Emergency Room Trauma Course (ERTC), Obstetric Skills Training and other based on modern simulation methodology, he added.

The Minister in reply to other clubbed question by Hakeem Mohammad Yasin Shah told that there is no shortage of diagnostic equipments and paramedic staff in PHCs of Rayar, Hardpanzoo, Shamasabad, Arigam and Waterrehail. He further said that USG and X-Ray machines are available and functional at SDH Kremshore and SDH Khansahib, while in addition to that the department will provide X-Ray and USG for Kralnewa, Chumujroo and Kachwari PHCs during the next financial year subject to availability of funds. He said Gurwait has not been sanctioned a PHC yet.

Mian Altaf Ahmad, Mr. Neelam Langeh raised   supplementary questions regarding the availability of health infrastructure and other facilities in the health institutions of their constituencies and called for paying focused attention in this regard.

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