3rd CII J&K Health Conclave: Key stakeholders deliberate accessible, equitable healthcare

Ziraat Times News Desk

LG Sinha inaugurates 3rd CII J&K Health Conclave, calls for accessible and equitable healthcare

Srinagar, Aug 29: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the 3rd edition of the CII Jammu & Kashmir Health Conclave in Srinagar, calling for a transformative healthcare system based on the vision of “Health Services Anytime, Anywhere” and stressing the need for accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare.

Addressing the conclave, Sinha said innovation, resilience and inclusive growth must shape the future of healthcare, with technology being leveraged to overcome geographical and financial barriers.

“From telemedicine to drone-delivered blood units, AI-powered diagnostics to solar cold chains, the roadmap for the future healthcare is clear that accessible, affordable, equitable healthcare for all should be our prime objective,” he said.

The Lieutenant Governor extended his best wishes to Ujala Cygnus Hospitals for its new initiative, the Peace and Wellbeing Foundation, and described the conclave as an opportunity for stakeholders to collectively rethink and redefine healthcare delivery in Jammu & Kashmir and other parts of the country.

Citing the example of an ASHA worker using tele-consultation to connect patients in remote villages with district hospitals, Sinha said telemedicine was helping eliminate geographical barriers to healthcare.

“Technology must serve humanity, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to timely medical care,” he said.

He called upon stakeholders to make Jammu & Kashmir a laboratory for low-cost, high-impact healthcare innovations, including drone-based delivery of medical supplies and blood units and solar-powered cold chains for health centres located in high-altitude areas.

Focus on prevention, screening

Sinha identified rising healthcare expenditure among the pressing challenges confronting health systems globally and called for a greater focus on prevention, early intervention and regular screening to reduce dependence on expensive treatments.

“We need to move beyond a system that treats illness to one that protects and promotes health. We must prioritise regular screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment,” he said.

He also stressed the need to expand training capacity in medical and nursing education, improve access to healthcare in rural and remote areas through telemedicine and ensure the wellbeing of healthcare workers.

“Better staffing, reduced administrative burden and mental-health support are fundamental requirements of a strong health system,” Sinha said.

Digital health, AI and local manufacturing

The Lieutenant Governor said efforts were underway under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expand accessibility, affordability and universal insurance coverage and eliminate health inequalities.

He highlighted the importance of secure digital health systems that can enable authorised doctors to access patients’ health histories while allowing patients to retain control over access to their information.

Sinha said Jammu & Kashmir had witnessed significant expansion of healthcare infrastructure, including two new AIIMS institutions, 10 new medical colleges, two State Cancer Institutes, specialised hospitals including Bone & Joint and paediatric facilities, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and five pharmacy colleges.

He described the expansion as a significant step towards social justice and equitable healthcare.

The Lieutenant Governor urged the conclave to deliberate on establishing modern primary health centres in every village, linked with district-level healthcare networks.

He also called for greater use of AI for early disease detection while supporting doctors’ decisions, stronger disease surveillance, enhanced genomic capacity and local manufacturing of diagnostic kits.

He stressed the need to build a robust healthcare workforce through nursing and paramedical institutions, continuous skill development and stronger collaboration between the government and private sector.

Calls for stronger public-private partnership

Sinha urged private hospitals and healthcare industries to join the effort to strengthen the health system, describing healthcare as an important component of nation-building.

“The strongest health systems are those in which the government and the private sector work together for public welfare, combining their capabilities, speed and innovation,” he said.

He said the ultimate measure of healthcare reforms should be their impact on people’s lives.

Sinha envisioned a future in which families in Kupwara would not have to travel long distances for routine healthcare, workers in Rajouri would not face financial insecurity while seeking medical treatment and medical graduates would be able to build their careers within Jammu & Kashmir.

“Advanced treatment and modern health facilities must be accessible to all so that we may establish the principles of social justice and equality. The health of an individual or a family affects opportunities, productivity and overall well-being of the society,” he said.

Who attended

Iqram Ali Shafiee, Chairman, CII J&K UT Council; Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Hospitals; Siddhant Choudhary, Vice Chairman, CII J&K; Dr Pervez Ahmad Sofi and Arafat Ahmad Bhat, Members of the Board of Directors of the Peace and Wellbeing Foundation; Sajad Hussain Lone, members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and healthcare professionals attended the inaugural ceremony.

Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; and senior officials were also present.