SRINAGAR: A delegation from the Group of Concerned Citizens (GCC), Jammu & Kashmir met Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar to raise pressing issues concerning the Union Territory’s healthcare system. The delegation was led by Khurshid Ahmed Ganai, a former IAS officer and former Advisor to the J&K Government. Other members included Lateef uz Zaman Deva (former Chairman, J&K Public Service Commission), Ms Naseem Lanker, Farooq Ahmed Kaloo, Dr Faiz Fazili, M.S. Magray, Er Hakim Iftikhar, Er Iftikhar Drabu, Mohammad Rafi, Abdul Majid Bhat, Abdul Rashid Khan.
The GCC delegation submitted a detailed memorandum titled “Healthcare Priorities for Policy Review and Action”, highlighting critical areas requiring urgent government intervention.
The GCC urged the Chief Minister to constitute a high-powered expert committee involving citizens and domain specialists to oversee healthcare reform implementation. They emphasised that Jammu & Kashmir’s healthcare crisis demands immediate and systematic intervention.
Key Demands and Issues Raised
I. Preventive Oncology and Cancer Care
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Mobile Screening Units: Revival of mobile cancer screening caravans, as successfully conducted by SKIMS Trust in 1979.
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Decentralised Mammography: Deployment of mammography machines at sub-district and block levels.
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Awareness Campaigns: Multilingual public outreach on cancer prevention and early detection.
II. Referral Policy and Tertiary Care Decongestion
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Enforce Referral Guidelines: Immediate adoption of the referral policy developed by the Director, SKIMS.
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Electronic Referral System: Real-time tracking grid to manage patient movement and capacity utilisation.
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Strengthen District Hospitals: Improve manpower, diagnostics, and infrastructure to avoid unnecessary referrals.
III. Human Resources Crisis
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Recruitment Drive: Accelerated hiring of doctors, nurses, and paramedics through PSC/SSB.
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Need-Based Posting: Ensure strategic deployment in underserved areas.
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Retention Policies: Introduce hardship allowances, career progression, and accommodation support.
IV. Maternal Health
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Decongest LD Hospital: Create satellite maternity units in key zones of Srinagar.
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Protocol-Based Referrals: Triage system to reduce pressure on tertiary maternity care.
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Upgrade CHCs/PHCs: Equip peripheral facilities for safer deliveries.
V. Cancer Care Infrastructure
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Operationalise RCC Srinagar: Full funding and staffing to make the Regional Cancer Centre functional.
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PPP-Model Cancer Hospital: Explore a public-private model for a modern, consolidated cancer treatment centre.
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Referral Integration: Strong linkages between RCCs, new facilities, and district oncology units.
VI. Affordability of Critical Treatments
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Subsidy Scheme: Immediate rollout of reimbursement for high-cost medications and dialysis.
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Price Negotiation and Procurement: Centralised drug purchasing to reduce patient expenses.
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Ayushman Bharat Strengthening: Expand empanelment and streamline claims.
VII. Emergency, Accident and Trauma Care
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Triage System: Mandatory scientific triage in all emergency departments.
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Time-Bound Protocols: Enforce timelines for doctor access, diagnosis, and admission.
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Infrastructure and Staffing: Fully equipped and manned Emergency Departments with resuscitation capacity.
VIII. Advanced Pediatric Care
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Dedicated Pediatric Super Specialty Centre: Establish new or upgrade existing Children’s Hospital with all major specialties, preferably at SKIMS.
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Leverage SKIMS Short-Term: Use SKIMS infrastructure until a dedicated centre is ready.
IX. Access to Essential Medicines
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24/7 Pharmacy Network: Ensure round-the-clock pharmacy services in all zones.
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Essential Drug Availability: Enforce stocking of medicines listed under the Essential Drug List.
X. Accountability in Private Maternity Care
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Audit C-Section Rates: Monthly reporting by private hospitals on normal vs. C-section deliveries with clinical justification.
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Random Audits: Regular inspections and public disclosure of facility-wise rates.
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Enforcement: Penal action against medically unjustified C-sections.
XI. Expanded Cancer Diagnostic Facilities
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PET-CT Installation at SMHS: Immediate procurement to address current shortfall—only 3 scanners serve over 13 million people.
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Strategic Rollout: Long-term plan to place scanners in other tertiary care centres like GMC Jammu and upcoming RCCs.
