Primary, secondary healthcare needs to be strengthened:

\ Mehbooba\ Srinagar, Oct 26 (PTI) Lauding the role of medics and\paramedics during the ongoing unrest in the Valley, Jammu and\Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today said primary and\secondary healthcare needs to be strengthened to lessen the\burden on the tertiary care health institutions in the state.\ \\"Primary and secondary healthcare in the state needs to be\strengthened so that there may be a lesser burden on the\tertiary care health institutions which could focus more on\specialty care,\\" Mehbooba said while chairing the \\’43rd\Governing Body\\’ meeting of Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical\Sciences (SKIMS) here.\ Mehbooba, who is also the Chairperson of the Governing\Body, said the faculty members of SKIMS are delivering\\\"quality\\" patient care at par with other renowned institutions\of the country.\ However, she said, the institute needs further improvement\viz-a-viz healthcare services to the poor, capacity building\for nurses and doctors, treatment of various life threatening\disease, like cancer.\ \\"SKIMS needs to create an ambitious vision for delivering\best healthcare to the patients,\\" she said.\ Referring to the ongoing unrest which has left 85 persons\dead and thousands injured, the Chief Minister said during the\recent law and order situation, the manner in which the medics\and paramedics rose to the occasion and for days together\ensured that proper medical care is given to the patients\reflects high on their professionalism and reiterates the\faith in this noble profession.\ In order to keep pace with recent advances and to update\their knowledge and skills, she said the SKIMS faculty members\may be allowed a sabbatical leave of one year after every five\years.\ \\"The faculty strength should not, however, be affected andeeds to be maintained as per MCI regulations,\\" Mehbooba said.\ With regard to installation of PET-CT Scanner for\diagnosis of cancer patients at SKIMS, the Chief Minister\asked Director SKIMS to expedite the process so as to upgrade\modern medical facilities for the people relieving them of\travelling outside the state for this facility.\ The meeting was informed that the matter has been taken up\with Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) authorities for theecessary approval, an official spokesman said, adding\Secretary Health was directed to follow up the matter with\AERB.\ Perspective plan for the establishment of State Cancer\Institute at SKIMS which will have the facility for 120-bedded\IPD Block for cancer patients and Personnel Promotion Scheme\Rules for faculty of SKIMS Medical College/Hospital were also\discussed in the meeting, he said.\ On creation of Trauma-Emergency Medicine Centre at SKIMS\to help decongest the present hospital and address issues\regarding the paucity of operation theatres and beds, Mehbooba\asked the Director SKIMS to work out the details and engage a\professional consultancy for the purpose. PTI MIJ\AQS\