JAMMU: The Committee on Public Accounts (PAC), chaired by MLA Sham Lal Sharma, conducted an inspection of various healthcare institutions in Jammu city today to evaluate infrastructure and the quality of medical services provided to the public.
This two-day on-site visit to health facilities across Jammu division was initiated following a review of pending CAG paras related to the Health Department during a meeting at the Assembly Secretariat last week.
The Committee visited several key institutions including GMC Jammu, Bone & Joint Hospital Jammu, Super Speciality Hospital Jammu, State Cancer Institute Jammu, Drug Controller Office J&K Jammu, Directorate of AYUSH Jammu, and Ayushman Bharat.
Members present included Mubarik Gul, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, Altaf Ahmed Wani (Kaloo), Javid Hassan Baig, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, Sajad Shaheen, and Muzaffar Iqbal Khan.
At Government Medical College Jammu, the Committee met with Dr. Syed Abid Rashid, Secretary Health and Medical Education, Principal Dr. Ashutosh Gupta, and other Heads of Departments (HoDs). The Principal provided an overview of healthcare services, staffing, laboratory facilities, modern operation theaters, and other amenities.
The Principal of Government Dental College Jammu, along with various HoDs of GMC and its affiliated hospitals, briefed the Committee on their operations, challenges, and ongoing development projects. The PAC members expressed concern over staff shortages and offered suggestions for enhancing health infrastructure.
At Bone & Joint Hospital Jammu, the Committee inspected the Spinal and Orthopedics wards and reviewed patient care facilities. Officials detailed the hospital’s operations.
The Super Speciality Hospital Jammu was examined with particular attention to the Cath Lab and ICU units.
At the State Cancer Institute Jammu, the Committee reviewed the Nuclear Medicine PET-CT Scan Console Room, Radiation Oncology Department, and Medical Physics Department (Brachytherapy).
Throughout the visits, the Committee assessed medical infrastructure and ongoing development work in these institutions.
During the meeting at the Directorate of AYUSH Jammu, officials provided updates on physical and financial achievements. Director Dr. Nuzhat Bashir Shah briefed the Committee on hospital activities, and members suggested ways to strengthen AYUSH services.
At the Drug Controller Office Jammu, State Drug Controller Lotika Khajuria presented details on statutory drug sampling and reported on samples declared non-standard or misbranded over the past three financial years. The Committee also inspected HPLC techniques used for drug analysis, and toured the Combined Food & Drug Laboratory and Micro Laboratory.
At the SHA, Ayushman Bharat, PMJAY office, concerns were raised over pending payments and liabilities under the Ayushman Scheme. The Chief Executive Officer gave a detailed presentation on the scheme’s implementation, overall performance, and beneficiary coverage.
The Committee concluded by issuing several recommendations aimed at further improving healthcare services and infrastructure across these institutions.
