POONCH, OCTOBER 17: Deputy Commissioner Poonch Ashok Kumar Sharma on Saturday chaired a comprehensive review meeting of the Health Department to assess the implementation and progress of various healthcare programmes, including Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT and Vay Vandana.
The meeting also focused on the winter plan, continuity of essential healthcare services and strengthening quality standards across healthcare institutions in the district.
A key focus of the meeting was ensuring uninterrupted access to healthcare during the upcoming winter months, particularly for pregnant women, patients undergoing dialysis, cancer patients and individuals suffering from asthma, especially those residing in remote and snow-affected areas.
The Deputy Commissioner directed health authorities to ensure that all institutional deliveries are facilitated at designated healthcare institutions. He instructed officials to identify pregnant women whose Expected Date of Delivery falls between November and March and make advance arrangements to shift them to the nearest designated delivery point well before the onset of adverse weather conditions.
He also stressed the need for advance planning to facilitate uninterrupted treatment for cancer patients, dialysis patients and those suffering from asthma.
Health authorities were directed to coordinate at district and block levels to identify vulnerable patients, assess their medical requirements and establish appropriate arrangements to ensure timely access to healthcare services during periods of heavy snowfall or road disruption.
Emphasising the importance of improving healthcare quality and patient safety, the DC stressed that maximum healthcare institutions across the district should be brought under the ambit of National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) certification. He called for focused attention on the quality of patient care, availability of essential services, hygiene and sanitation, infection prevention, maintenance of records and adherence to established healthcare protocols.
The concerned officers were directed to identify gaps in infrastructure and service delivery and take timely corrective measures to improve the overall functioning of healthcare institutions.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasised that NQAS certification should be pursued as part of a sustained effort to strengthen public healthcare services and ensure accessible, safe and quality treatment for people across the district.
During the meeting, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Parvaiz Ahmed Khan delivered a detailed PowerPoint presentation on the progress of various health programmes and key performance indicators in the district.
The Deputy Commissioner reviewed the issuance and utilisation of Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY SEHAT cards, which provide eligible beneficiaries access to cashless healthcare services. Progress under the PM Vay Vandana scheme, aimed at extending healthcare coverage to eligible senior citizens, was also assessed.
The DC directed the health authorities to accelerate the verification and generation of cards for all remaining eligible beneficiaries. He called for intensified awareness campaigns to ensure that people are informed about the benefits available under the schemes and can access treatment in accordance with the applicable provisions.
He stressed that no eligible beneficiary should be left out and that implementation of the schemes at hospitals and other healthcare institutions must remain smooth and effective.
The meeting also reviewed the functioning of outpatient and inpatient services, major surgeries, institutional deliveries, diagnostic facilities, X-ray services, laboratory testing and dialysis units operating at District Hospital Poonch and Community Health Centres in Surankote and Mendhar.
The Deputy Commissioner took stock of the implementation of several national and public health programmes, including the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), National Tobacco Control Programme, Family Welfare Programme and Immunisation Programme, along with other ongoing health initiatives.
He stressed the need for effective implementation, regular monitoring and improved outreach to ensure that the benefits of these programmes reach the intended beneficiaries, particularly children, women, vulnerable groups and residents of remote areas.
The officers were directed to maintain close coordination among district and block-level health units, improve service delivery and address operational challenges affecting the implementation of various programmes.
The Deputy Commissioner emphasised that special attention must be given to safe institutional deliveries, uninterrupted treatment for patients requiring regular medical care and the expansion of NQAS certification across the maximum possible number of healthcare institutions in the district.
The meeting was attended by Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Parvaiz Khan, Medical Superintendent, Dr. Mohd Shafeeq Chowdhury, Deputy Chief Medical Officer;
Dr. Ruby Naz Bhatti, Block Medical Officers of Mandi, Surankote and Mendhar; the District Immunisation Officer; officers of the District and Block Programme Management Units; the District ASHA Coordinator; and officials of the NTEP unit.
