SRINAGAR: To promote the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) in Jammu and Kashmir, an amount of Rs 101 crore was being utilised for construction of five ISM hospitals and 30 dispensaries in the state.
The Union Health Ministry in principle has agreed to provide funds for setting up National Programme of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) centres in all districts in the state, minister of state for health Shabir Ahmad Khan said.
He said upgradation of ISM infrastructure in the state also received focused attention of the government adding that construction work on five major ISM hospitals and 30 dispensaries at an estimated cost of Rs 101 crore is apace across the state.
He said the government has set up ISM health centers at all state and district level hospitals, besides primary health centers, where free of cost medicines and other related facilities have been made available to patients.
Mr Khan said directions have been issued to authorities concerned to ensure proper treatment facilities for people at the ISM hospitals, adding that it should be strictly ensured that patients get free of cost medicines and other health care facilities in these hospitals.
Mr Khan said the government was keen to promote the Indian system of treatment in the State.
He said in this regard 438 AYUSH medical officers have been engaged at Public Health Centres (PHCs), 160 posts of Ayurveda and Unani medical officers created by corresponding reduction of equal number of posts of Assistant surgeons besides 396 AYUSH Pharmacist have also been engaged under National Rural Health Mission at Primary Health Centers across the State.
He said government would bring all districts under the benefit of National Programme of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) adding that at present such facility is being provided in six districts of the state three each in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions.
He said in this regard the Union Health Ministry in principle has agreed to provide funds and a detail proposal would be mooted soon to the Centre for approval.
Mr Khan said presently this programme is under implementation in the districts of Kupwara, Kargil and Leh in Kashmir Province, where the patients having ailments of Diabetes, malignancy, cardio- vascular disorders, Cancer and hypertension gets free treatment facilities with the cent per cent financial assistance of Central Government.
The Centre is funding the programs at district level to scan the patients with these diseases in the state, he said and added that during last two years Centre has released Rs 5.84 crore, against which Rs 4.08 crore have been incurred on free treatment of different contagious diseases in these districts.
He said under National Programme of Healthcare for Elderly Rs 2.06 crore have been expended on different treatments in these districts.
