Srinagar, Aug 29 (PTI) Jammu and Kashmir is becoming a hub of innovation and resilience in health sector, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said here on Saturday, as he called for accessible, affordable, and equitable healthcare for all.
The LG was speaking after inaugurating the third edition of the CII Jammu and Kashmir Health Conclave.
He emphasised the transformative vision of “health services anytime, anywhere” and highlighted the role of innovation, resilience and inclusive growth in shaping the future of healthcare.
Citing the example of an ASHA worker using tele-consultation to connect patients in remote villages with district hospitals, the LG said that telemedicine is a revolutionary step that eliminates geographical barriers.
He stressed that technology must serve humanity, ensuring that even the most remote communities have access to timely medical care, and urged stakeholders at the conclave to make the UT a laboratory for low-cost, high-impact innovations such as drone-based delivery of medical supplies and solar-powered cold chains for high-altitude health centres.
Outlining the pressing challenges confronting global health systems, including rising healthcare expenditure, the LG called for a shift towards prevention, early intervention and regular screening to reduce dependence on costly treatments.
“We need to move beyond a system that treats illness to one that protects and promotes health. We must prioritise regular screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment,” he said.
Sinha also underscored the importance of expanding training capacity, supporting wellbeing of medical staff and leveraging telemedicine to extend reach. “Better staffing, reduced administrative burden and mental-health support are fundamental requirements of a strong health system,” he said.
Crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership for ensuring accessibility, affordability and universal insurance coverage, the LG said “health inequality has been eliminated”.
“Under the leadership of the hon’ble prime minister, efforts are being made to link health records across the country through a secure digital system. This will enable any authorised doctor, wherever they may be, to access a patient’s health history within moments. At the same time, patients retain control over who can view their information and how much information they can access,” he said.
Sinha further noted significant progress in Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare infrastructure — including two new AIIMS institutions, 10 new medical colleges, two state cancer institutes, specialised hospitals, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and five pharmacy colleges — calling it “historic steps towards social justice and equitable healthcare”.
Urging the conclave to deliberate on key priorities of developing modern primary health centres in every village linked to district networks, he emphasised the need to harness AI for early detection of diseases while supporting doctors’ decisions, strengthen disease surveillance and forge strong collaboration between government and private sector. PTI SSB PRK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.