Bali Bhagat inspects pace of Unani College, Distt Hospital, Ganderbal

Directs executing agencies to accomplish projects in time bound manner

Unani College to start functioning during next session

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 20 – Minister for Health & Medical Education, Bali Bhagat today paid visit to Ganderbal and took stock of the pace of two major health projects namely, Unani Medical College-cum- Hospital and District Hospital.

            MLA Ganderbal, Sheikh Ishfaq Jabbar, Principal Secretary Health & Medical Education, Pawan Kotwal, Secretary (Technical) Health & Medical Education & Director Indian System of Medicines, Abdul Kabir Dar, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Piyush Singla, Additional SP, Shivdev Singh, Joint Director Planning, H&ME, Madan Lal Bhagat and officers of J&K Housing Board and Health Departments accompanied the Minister during the tour.

While inspecting the Unani Medical College & Hospital, the Minister was apprised that all components of the project are in time line and likely to be accomplished in mid 2018. The execution was physically started during 2010-11.

An amount of Rs. 22.50 crore stands released in favour of the executing agency J&K Housing Board, out of total project cost Rs. 32 crore. The agency assured to complete all the components including fencing wall within the approved outlay.

Similarly, the work on District Hospital project is in full swing and emergency block (one floor) will be ready by 15^th of October, 2017 by the executing Agency, JKPCC. The total cost of project is Rs. 52.56 crore and till date an amount of Rs. 29.15 crore stands released. The execution was physically started in October, 2011.

            The Minister called upon the executing agencies to speed up the pace of work and accomplish these in a time bound manner without cost escalation. He directed the concerned to pay focused attention on quality of work strictly as per the specifications. He also suggested some modifications in interior designs to ensure best use of the space and technology which will prove useful in the long run for the patients and attendants. He also directed the Deputy Commissioner to personally monitor the quality and pace of work so that the projects are fast paced and put to public use at the earliest.

            Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said that Government is exploring all possibilities to make functional Unani Medical College & Hospital from the next academic session with intake capacity of 50 Unani seats. The Government of India has already been approached to convey approval for starting the college during the next session. It is most likely that all the necessary requirements to commission the College will be completed well before the next session. The BOPEE authorities will also be approached to select 50 eligible candidates for undergoing Unani Course accordingly.

Bali said that AYUSH sector has great potential in the State and large number of people are showing added faith on this ancient traditional Indian medicare system. The Government will make all out efforts to upgrade this sector by strengthening the facilities in all the Ayurvedic/Unani Centres across the State. With the opening of Ayurvedic College at Jammu and Unani College at Ganderbal, there will be a major push to this sector and help the patients to avail the treatment under AYUSH.

Later, the Minister also visited the Regional Research Institute of Unani Medicines, Government of India at Hazratbal and interacted with the functionaries of the Institute. He enquired about the functioning and facilities available in the Institute for the patients. He was apprised that the mandate of this Regional level Institutes is to undertake regrous research work on Unani medicines and ailments which are being monitored by the Union Ministry of AYUSH, New Delhi. The other facilities like OPD, IPD, Lab, x-ray, USG are also available for the patients. The institute is affiliated to Kashmir University.

The Minister was highly impressed by the functioning of the Institute and urged the need for a tie-up with the State AYUSH Department to enlarge the benefits to the patients.