CM To New Mos: Take Healthcare Closer To People

(MENAFN- Kashmir Observer) Srinagar- Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday handed over appointment orders to newly appointed Medical Officers of the Health and Medical Education Department at a ceremony held at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC), urging the new doctors to serve people with dedication and compassion.

Personally handing over the appointment orders to the newly recruited Medical Officers appointed across Jammu and Kashmir, the Chief Minister congratulated them on joining government service and described their appointment as the beginning of a new chapter in their professional lives.

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Addressing the gathering, Omar said the appointment marked the culmination of years of hard work, perseverance and sacrifice by the doctors and their families.

He acknowledged the contribution of the parents and families who supported the young doctors throughout their medical education and training.

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The Chief Minister said joining government service, particularly in the health sector, brought with it a greater responsibility as people approach doctors during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.

“People have high expectations from you. In the most difficult of times, when people go in search of someone, they go in search of a doctor. Some people will reach you when they have given up all their hopes, and they will see the last ray of hope in you,” he said.

Omar urged the newly appointed Medical Officers to serve wherever they were posted, particularly in remote and underserved areas, saying stronger healthcare delivery at the grassroots level was essential to reducing the burden on hospitals in Jammu and Srinagar.

He said people should not have to travel to major cities for routine medical procedures and treatment.

“Normal deliveries, gallbladder and appendicitis surgeries-these should be available at the sub-district level, and at least at the district level where they cannot be provided at the sub-district level. But often we see patients being referred directly to Srinagar or Jammu,” he said.

The Chief Minister called upon the new doctors to help ensure quality and accessible healthcare closer to where people live.

At the same time, he acknowledged that doctors posted in remote areas would expect adequate infrastructure, connectivity and better working conditions from the government.

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“You will expect us to provide you with proper infrastructure so that you can carry out your duties properly. You will expect us to provide you with proper connectivity in the areas where we post you,” Omar said, assuring that the government would continue working to improve service conditions and healthcare infrastructure.

He also called for a change in the mindset towards postings in remote areas, sharing an anecdote from an earlier interaction with newly appointed doctors to underline the need for greater willingness to serve outside major urban centres.

“We have to change the future of Jammu and Kashmir. To change the future, we are paying special attention to two things-education and health,” Omar Abdullah said.

He described education and health as the foundation for Jammu and Kashmir's progress, saying development in other sectors would not reach its full potential unless people were educated and healthy.

Highlighting the government's efforts to make medical education more accessible, Omar said Jammu and Kashmir continues to substantially subsidise medical education so that students can pursue medical studies at comparatively affordable costs.

He said medical education in government medical colleges in J&K remains significantly cheaper than in several other states despite the high cost involved in training doctors.

“We happily accept this expense because we want more doctors to be made,” he said, adding that the government had also taken steps to increase the intake capacity of medical colleges in J&K in coordination with the Centre.

The Chief Minister said increasing the number of medical seats would create a larger pool of trained doctors who could eventually enter public service and contribute to healthcare delivery across the Union Territory.

Assuring the newly appointed Medical Officers of continued government support, he said,“We will improve your service conditions so that you can carry out your work without fear. We will also improve your infrastructure. And in medical colleges, wherever there is a shortage, we will also improve it.”

Calling upon the doctors to make the most of their careers in public service, Omar expressed hope that they would dedicate the coming decades to serving the people and contributing to the development of Jammu and Kashmir.

“You have entered the Government of Jammu and Kashmir. Please do your work with that spirit-with the hope that people see you in these positions, and with the hope that your parents and family, who helped you reach here by making sacrifices and supporting you, can be proud of you,” he said.

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