SRINAGAR: Navin Kumar Choudhary today assumed charge as Principal Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department.
Immediately after assuming charge, Principal Secretary took an introductory meeting of officers of the Health and Medical Education Department. He exhorted upon them to redouble their efforts towards initiating fundamental reforms besides streamlining the existing system.
The meeting was attended by Special Secretary, H&ME, Director Finance, H&ME, Additional Secretaries, Under Secretaries, OSD H&ME and other officers.
During the meeting, Navin Choudhary took brief from officers about their respective roles and functioning of the department. He was given section wise briefing of different works and was presented in depth details about the functioning of various units of the department.
The important agenda points discussed during the meeting were human resource management, revenue budget, staff strength of the department, physical infrastructure, recruitment, stock of legal cases, DPCs, transfer and postings besides other issues.
He also took brief from every officer about the pressing issues faced by the concerned section and sought suggestions from the officers to find ways and means to resolve those issues.
He directed the officers to resolve the issues of the employees and remain sensitive to the issues of the public.
He directed all the officers to ensure disposal of files within 24 hours of receiving the same on their table saying that the progress on this front will be reviewed on regular basis. He also sought consolidated report on recruitment in all wings of H&ME and was informed about the new posts that have been referred to PSC for recruitment.
He also directed the officers to prepare full inventory of all the establishments in all district hospitals, PHCs, sub-centres and sought details on incomplete buildings and infrastructure.
Principal Secretary also directed the officers to take corrective measures to ensure that no unnecessary referrals are made from districts to tertiary care hospitals.
In order to create accountability regarding referral of patients, Principal Secretary directed that log-books regarding details of referred patients and concrete reasons for referral shall be maintained.
Principal Secretary sought details about the medical facilities along the National Highway and main roads. He said that signages should be installed on the NH about the nearest medical facility and should be adequately staffed to make them functional round the clock.
Later, Principal Secretary chaired a meeting to review the present scenario of Covid-19 in Jammu and Kashmir. He also reviewed the arrangements and health care services to be provided during the Amarnath Ji Yatra-2022 to the pilgrims.
While chairing the meeting on COVID, Principal Secretary directed the officers not to lower their guard under any circumstances and strongly underlined the need to follow effective surveillance strategies in respect of potential super spreading events. He directed that rigorous contact tracing and testing should be adopted and no lackadaisical approach should be adopted in this regard. He asked the officers to ensure that all symptomatic people are tested besides keeping a close eye on the emerging data. He said that Oxygen Filling Plants will be set up, one each in Jammu and Srinagar, to ensure smooth supply of medical grade oxygen to meet any exigencies.
While reviewing arrangements being made for medical care of pilgrims during the forthcoming Shri Amarnathji Yatra, Principal Secretary directed the concerned officers to ensure that the necessary advanced medical facilities are provided not only at Base Hospitals but also at other Medical Centers on the Yatra routes.
Director Health Services Kashmir furnished item wise report to the Principal Secretary about the arrangements being put in place for the Yatra. He informed that all medical facilities including base hospitals, medical aid centres, emergency aid centres, oxygen booths and on route facilities/pilgrim transit camps have been set up with all the requisite facilities. He said that verification of available infrastructure and machinery equipments at Ganderbal and Anantnag has been conducted.
The meeting was attended by Principals of Government Medical Colleges, Mission Director NHM, Director General Family Welfare, MCH and Immunization, Special Secretary H&ME, Director Finance H&ME, Director Health Services Jammu, Director Health Services Kashmir, Managing Director JKMSCL, OSD H&ME, Additional Secretary, Joint Director, Chief Medical Officers of several districts.
Jammu stationed officers attended the meeting through video conferencing.

KR Desk