J&K is all set to get two new medical colleges under a centrally sponsored scheme for augmentation of human resource in health sector.
An official communication from State Health and MedicalEducation Department revealed that the State will submit a proposal to UnionMinistry of Health and Family Welfare for upgrading district hospitals ofHandwara and Udhampur to medical college level. The proposal is being finalised, an official said. The decision (to submit proposal) has beentaken following the union ministry’s directions to the State during a reviewmeeting three weeks ago, reads the communication.
A senior health official said the two districts hospitalshad been chosen based on various parameters and guidelines set by Government ofIndia.
“Udhampur has one of the best district hospitals in theState and was awarded recently while district hospital Handwara has alwaysserved as a nodal point for healthcare needs of people in northern Kashmir,”the official said.
The two hospitals have also been witnessing heavy footfalland fulfill the required guidelines, the official said, adding the proposalwould be expedited as the State was “very keen” on adding two more colleges toits kitty.
The two medical colleges for Handwara and Udhampur are among75 new colleges, to be set up in under-served districts across differentStates, under the centrally-funded scheme for converting district hospitals tothe medical colleges.
The Union cabinet had recently cleared the proposal to upgradehuman resource for health services across the states.
The allotment of the colleges will be made on first comefirst serve basis, as per the order, and the Government has already directedthe district commissioners to identify land suitable for the projects.
“Land measuring 200 kanals (25 acres) within the radius of10 kms from the existing district hospital is the first and foremostrequirement for establishment of new medical colleges” reads a communication.
The DCs have been urged to submit the requisite documents torevenue department for formal transfer of the land to health and medicaleducation department.
J&K was allotted five medical colleges in 2014 under asimilar scheme.