DEC 6: In a significant push to strengthen healthcare delivery across Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo chaired a comprehensive review of health infrastructure projects valued at ₹1,000 crore under the flagship PM-ABHIM and ECRP-II schemes. The review meeting focused on accelerating the execution pace of major health facilities while ensuring strict compliance with quality standards and financial utilization norms.
The Chief Secretary directed the Hospital Services Consultancy Corporation (HSCC) to increase its manpower and equipment teams threefold, emphasizing that project delays must be eliminated to meet national deadlines. He noted that the ongoing infrastructure upgrades, once completed, will substantially improve the quality of healthcare services available to citizens across both divisions of the Union Territory.
A key priority highlighted during the review was the expedited completion of Critical Care Blocks (CCBs), which are essential for expanding emergency response capabilities in district hospitals. These blocks will enhance the capacity of the health system to manage trauma, infectious diseases, and high-dependency cases.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed progress on the establishment of District Integrated Public Health Labs—a crucial component for strengthening diagnostic capabilities and disease surveillance across the region. The labs, once fully operational, will support early detection, outbreak response, and advanced testing services.
Similarly, the development of Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) remains central to improving decentralized public health management. These units are expected to strengthen community-level health outreach, integrate data-driven planning, and support preventive health initiatives.
Dulloo stressed the need for timely fund utilization, warning that delays could affect project continuity and resource allocation. He instructed departments to maintain strict monitoring mechanisms, ensure seamless coordination with executing agencies, and uphold transparency in procurement and construction processes.
Emphasizing the long-term impact of these investments, the Chief Secretary noted that the upgraded infrastructure will significantly enhance the overall performance of the healthcare ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir. This includes better patient care facilities, modern equipment, improved laboratory services, and stronger disease surveillance mechanisms aligned with national health security goals.
Officials from the Health and Medical Education Department, HSCC, district administrations, and engineering wings attended the review meeting and assured the Chief Secretary that revised timelines will be strictly adhered to. They highlighted that material procurement, manpower deployment, and civil works are being fast-tracked to meet the targets set under PM-ABHIM and ECRP-II.
With the government’s focused approach, Jammu and Kashmir is poised to witness remarkable progress in strengthening its health infrastructure, ensuring that citizens across urban and rural areas gain access to improved and more resilient healthcare services.
