In a determined effort to uplift healthcare delivery and improve health indicators across Jammu & Kashmir, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo led a high-level review meeting to assess the progress of the National Health Mission (NHM) across the Union Territory.
The session brought together top officials, including the Secretary of Health and Medical Education, the Mission Director of NHM, principals from Government Medical Colleges, and Directors of Health Services from both Kashmir and Jammu. Together, they took a deep dive into the ground realities, successes, and roadblocks that continue to shape the healthcare landscape of the region.
One of the most pressing concerns raised by the Chief Secretary was the uninterrupted availability of essential medicines in health institutions. Dulloo stressed that healthcare delivery loses meaning if patients are turned away due to medicine shortages. To ensure that this issue is tackled proactively, he directed that all districts must submit weekly reports on medicine stock. These updates will be shared in real-time with Deputy Commissioners, Directors of Health Services, and the Planning Section of his office, allowing quick interventions before gaps widen.
Another major area of concern was the condition of medical equipment. Under the Biomedical Equipment Management and Maintenance Programme (BEMMP), Chief Secretary Dulloo called for urgent profiling of equipment across hospitals. “Non-functional machines mean delayed treatment, and sometimes even loss of life,” he said firmly, setting an August deadline for completion of the profiling.
Addressing the shortage of specialists, particularly the vacancies in DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats in government hospitals, he urged the Health Department to consider in-service Medical Officers for these roles where suitable external candidates are not available.
Dulloo was especially passionate about child health. He gave clear directions to ensure the Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) reaches every school and Anganwadi centre across Jammu & Kashmir, ensuring early screening and timely care for children.
The Chief Secretary also reviewed critical care infrastructure projects underway under PM-ABHIM (Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission). With deadlines approaching fast, he reminded officials that while speed is important, quality must never be compromised.
Atal Dulloo’s message was clear: healthcare is not just about systems and structures, but about the people who rely on them. His directives emphasized accountability, urgency, and above all, compassion—values that are vital in transforming public health in Jammu & Kashmir.
