JAMMU, JUNE 26: Expansion of higher education, healthcare institutions and roads is needed for socio-economic uplift of people in Jammu and Kashmir, Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today said.
 Basic amenities have to be provided to people living in far-flung regions of the state, he told a public meeting at Kilhotran in Gandoh tehsil of Doda district.
 He said various roads are under execution in the erstwhile district Doda which need to be completed soon. The land compensation must be provided on priority to poor people whose land has been occupied for construction of government establishments or roads, he said.
 Azad said a 100 bedded hospital has been sanctioned for Bhalessa area in the district at an estimated cost of Rs 52 crore as people faced a lot of problem when any one fell ill.
 Besides, the 10-15 bedded PHC Gandoh will be upgraded to 50 bedded hospital, he said.
 Azad said the Union Health Ministry will launch a scheme under which 100 districts of the country, including erstwhile Doda district, will be covered in the first phase.
 Under the scheme, free check up and tests of diabetes will be conducted in males and females above the age of 30 years at the nearest PHC, while as for pregnant women there is no age bar for conduct of the test.
 He also announced free check up of cancer and heart diseases at each district hospital in the state
 He said Central Government is providing adequate funding for the construction of hospitals, but there is deficiency of MBBS doctors in the state and country, He revealed that there are seven lakh doctors in the country against a requirement of 17 lakhs and there is deficit of 10  lakhs doctors which is directly affecting the Health Care Delivery system in rural areas.
 He said to provide better Health care in rural areas Union Ministry of  Health and Indian Medical Association have amending the syllabus of  MBBS Doctors who are undergoing training, under which these trainee Doctors have to serve in Villages for one year to get the Degree of  MBBS.
 Azad said as the Bhalessa area is hilly and tough terrain and the  people face a lot of problem when any one get sick or injured,  a 100  bedded hospital has been sanctioned for the area which will be constructed  at an estimated cost of Rs. 52 crore for which the land stands  identified and the work shall be started soon and the  10-15 bedded PHC Gandoh will be upgraded to 50 bedded hospital.
 He expressed dissatisfaction over the work done on the Thathri – Kilhotran road for which Rs. 40 crore was provide by the Centre Government to Blacktop and widen the road.
 He directed the concerned executing agency to speed up the work and complete the remaining work within the shortest possible time so that the Bhalessa region get better road connectivity.
 Earlier, Azad inaugurated the newly constructed 63 Mtr. Motorable Bridge over Kalguni Nallah on Gundoh –Jai road  constructed by JKPCC  at an estimated cost of Rs 193 lacs.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Wed, 27 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST