Srinagar, Aug 05: Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha Friday said that protecting the health of citizens is the foremost responsibility of Jammu and Kashmir administration.
He said this after inaugurating the 150-bedded Ujala Cygnus Kashmir Superspeciality Hospital in Nowgam.
On this occasion, the Lt Governor said that the new state-of-the-art hospital, equipped with all the advanced medical facilities, will strengthen the government’s efforts of ensuring quality healthcare services to the people of J&K, besides generating employment opportunities for the locals.
“To protect the health of citizens is the foremost responsibility of the administration.
“The UT Government is partnering with renowned healthcare companies, bringing private players on board and facilitating all such efforts to bridge the health gap for extending affordable & accessible healthcare facilities for all segments of society,” observed the Lt Governor.
Highlighting the major strides made in the healthcare ecosystem, the Lt Governor said, J&K, once struggling to cater to the healthcare needs of the people is now emerging as one of the leading states/UTs in various health parameters.
Even after 67 years of Independence, there were only three medical colleges in Jammu and Kashmir. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seven new medical colleges have been established in the UT in just eight years. J&K has the unique distinction of being the first UT of the country with two AIIMS, the Lt Governor observed.
Prime Minister also launched the Ayushman Bharat-SEHAT Scheme in December 2020, extending health insurance of Rs 5 lakh per family to every citizen without any discrimination. Before 2019, there were only 129 health and wellness centers across Jammu and Kashmir. As many as 1275 new health and wellness centers have been set up in two years, he added. Furthermore, 211 Ambulances are serving the people of the UT round the clock. Dialysis facilities are now available in all 20 districts of UT. Government Medical College Jammu has also successfully performed a record three kidney transplants this year. Moreover, J&K is getting a much higher average per capita healthcare budget allocation than many states having more than twice the population, the Lt Governor further added.
Within a year, 22 proposals worth Rs 4400 crore have been approved for developing Medicity in Jammu and Kashmir, which will create additional 1000 MBBS seats, and add thousands of beds for patients in health facilities, besides providing large employment opportunities to medical professionals, noted the Lt Governor.
The Lt Governor also highlighted the improvements registered in various health parameters during the last couple of years.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the neonatal mortality rate has come down to 9.8, which is way less than the national average of 24.9 (Per 1000 live births). The national average of infant mortality rate is 35.2 while in Jammu and Kashmir, it is 16.3. J&K’s under-5 mortality rate is 18.5 as compared to national average of 41.9. Sex ratio at birth- National average is 929 whereas in Jammu and Kashmir, it is 976. The UT of J&K is also in a better position in the country with 92.4% Institutional births, 96.5% Fully Immunized Children, besides having Life Expectancy Rate of 74, informed the Lt Governor.
All these achievements are a reflection of the government’s resolve towards improving the quality of life and quality of health for all, the Lt Governor said.
The Lt Governor congratulated the entire team of Ujala Cygnus and hoped that the health facility launched today will serve the people with full dedication.
Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, Chief Secretary while speaking on the occasion observed that inauguration of Ujala Cygnus Hospital marks the beginning of medical tourism in J&K. The UT is ahead in the country on various health parameters and would become a hub of medical tourism. All hospitals in J&K will be ranked based on their performance, he added.
Probal Goshal, Executive Chairman, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals’ expressed his commitment to providing highest standard healthcare services to the people of J&K. Digital and physical healthcare services shall be provided to people even residing in far flung areas for the well-being of people, he added.
Ujala Cygnus Kashmir has committed to offering medical services under Ayushman Bharat Yojana.
Founders & Directors, Ujala Cygnus Group of Hospitals, Dr Shuchin Bajaj and Dr Dinesh Batra, delivered the welcome address and the Vote of thanks respectively.
The new hospital has secondary and tertiary care facilities in Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Neurosurgery, Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement Surgery, Laparoscopic Surgery, Gynaecology, Paediatrics and Neonatology, Internal Medicine, Urology, Rheumatology, OncoSurgery, Ophthalmology, ENT, Plastic and Vascular Surgery, Pulmonology, Nephrology, Neurology, 24x7 Trauma and Critical Care. The hospital also includes a state-of-the-art radiology department, round-the-clock pharmacy, labs, and ambulance services. It also has a 24x7 toll-free mental health helpline facility, it was informed.
Pandurang K Pole, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir; Shashidhar Pathak, Sr Editor Amar Ujala; Dr. Pervez Sofi , Managing Director, Ujala Cygnus Kashmir Superspeciality Hospital, besides senior officers of Army, Paramilitary, District Administration, Doctors, and Nursing staff were present on the occasion.