In a heartfelt and focused drive to uplift healthcare standards across Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo led a crucial high-level meeting on Friday, bringing together key officials to take stock of the progress under the National Health Mission (NHM).
The meeting brought together the Secretary of Health and Medical Education, Mission Director of NHM, principals from Government Medical Colleges, Directors of Health Services from both Kashmir and Jammu, the Managing Director of JKMSCL, and several other stakeholders. The tone was clear—this wasn’t just another routine review. It was a collective mission to ensure that no citizen is left behind when it comes to access to quality healthcare.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary Dulloo emphasized one of the most vital needs in the healthcare system—ensuring that essential medicines are always available across all hospitals and health centers. He called for weekly reports from every district and demanded real-time data sharing with Deputy Commissioners, Directors of Health Services, and his own Planning Section, so that gaps can be immediately identified and addressed.
He also stressed the urgency of completing the Equipment Profile under the Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme (BEMMP) by August. His message was straightforward: a hospital with non-functional equipment cannot serve its people effectively. Functional tools save lives.
Another concern that came up was the high number of vacant DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats in many hospitals. Dulloo called on health officials to find immediate solutions, including offering these training opportunities to in-service doctors when outside candidates are not available.
Children’s health was also in sharp focus. The Chief Secretary directed that the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) should leave no child behind—reaching every school and every Anganwadi centre across the Union Territory.
Reviewing the progress on critical care infrastructure under the PM-ABHIM initiative, Dulloo pushed for faster completion of all district-level projects. “Deadlines matter, but not at the cost of quality,” he told the gathered officials.
This meeting wasn’t just about numbers and timelines. It reflected a deep commitment to ensuring that healthcare in Jammu & Kashmir becomes more responsive, reliable, and accessible. As the region continues to heal and grow, the Chief Secretary’s message rings loud and clear: Health is not a privilege; it’s a right—and every measure must be taken to uphold it.
