Free medicines at Jammu and Kashmir govt hospitals from June 1

Jammu: Free medicines will be provided in all state-run hospitals in Jammu & Kashmir from June 1 this year and a 100-bed hospital would be constructed in the mountainous Kishtwar district.

"Government will implement the policy of providing free medicines in all the state government hospitals from June 1 this year as this has been a long pending demand of people" state health minister Bali Bhagat said.

He said the government would soon establish a 100-bed hospital in Kishtwar district as it has witnessed fatal road accidents because of its peculiar topography.

"Being one of the remotest districts of the state, which remains cut-off frequently during the winter season due to snowfall, healthcare services need to be upgraded in the area," he said.

The minister said the new government headed by chief minister Mehbooba Mufti was committed to providing improved facilities to people, especially those living in the rural and far-flung areas of the state.

To provide succour to patients suffering from life threatening disease like cancer, the state has also sent a proposal to the Centre for setting up a cancer institute in the district, which is likely to the sanctioned soon, he said.

Bhagat said the present dispensation will focus on developing durable infrastructure in essential sectors including health, education, roads etc, which are key to growth and prosperity of the society.

Government had formulated a comprehensive programme for upgradation of essential services across the state during its first stint, which will be implemented in a time-bound manner, he said.

Maintaining that accountability, performance and transparency will be the benchmarks for the administration, the minister said every officer will be made fully accountable to ensure time-bound delivery of services on ground.