Jammu: To strengthen the Cancer care services at the tertiary level, the State Administrative Council (SAC) under the chairmanship of Governor, Satya Pal Malik accorded sanction to the establishment of a separate Nuclear Medicine Department in Government Medical College (GMC), Jammu along with creation of 13 posts of various categories including 05 posts of faculty members, 03 posts of Registrar/ Medical Officer and 05 posts of Paramedical staff.
It is pertinent to mention that the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS)– “National Programme for prevention and control of Cancer, Diabetes, CVD and Stroke (NPCDCS)” sanctioned two State Cancer Institutes’ (SCIs) in J&K, one in SKIMS Soura and other in GMC, Jammu. SKIMS Soura has received the 1st instalment of Rs 47.25 Crore for establishment of SCI.
To make SCI functional at GMC Jammu, establishment of Nuclear Medicine Department was mandatory so that funds under various components of the scheme are sanctioned by the Government of India including for procurement and installation of PET Scan Machine in GMC, Jammu.
Establishment of a Cancer care service at GMC Jammu will enable the patients undergo tests and treatment within the State for which otherwise they had to travel outside State much to their inconvenience and incurring large travel and treatment expenditure.
The SAC also approved creation of additional 14 posts of various categories including 02 posts of Medical Officers and 12 posts of paramedical /other staff to strengthen Maternity Centre Zakura, Srinagar to enable it to function on 24×7 basis.
There was a persistent demand from the public to make Maternity Centre Zakura, Srinagar functional on 24×7 basis. Accordingly, the Department started infrastructure development works at Maternity Centre Zakura under which a new building has been constructed which is nearing completion. However, the manpower shortage remained a concern and therefore, SAC approved the creation of additional staff for the said hospital so that the healthcare services are delivered effectively.
SAC also approved upgradation of the Sub Centre at Utterbani, Block Purmandal, Jammu to the level of Primary Health Centre (PHC) along with creation of 09 posts of various categories including 01 post of Medical Officer and 08 posts of Paramedical/other staff.
Utterbani is a religious place where large number of pilgrims visit throughout the year particularly during the Amavasyas (every month), Kumb Mela, Chetra Choudhas (annually) and Maha Shiv Ratri. On an average, 300-350 pilgrims visit the holy shrine on daily basis.
Owing to religious significance of the place and rush of pilgrims and public, there was a persistent demand from the locals to upgrdade the said Sub Centre to the level of PHC, which the SAC approved today.
