An order has been issued in this regard by the health and education department of the UT. Through the order, The Jammu and Kashmir Health Department has constituted a Union Territory Level Steering Committee and designation of the Nodal Officers and District Residency Program coordinator at Divisional and District Level for implementation of District Residency Program.

The move comes as part of the DRP Programme finalized by the Medical Council of India Board of Governors ( MCI BOG).

Medical dialogues had earlier reported about the approval given by the MCI for the initiation of DRP at the national level. It was reported that all PG broad specialty students will have to undergo three-month rotational duty in various clinical departments of government district hospitals having 100 beds or more. Such rotation shall take place in the 3rd or 4th or 5th semester of the Postgraduate program and postgraduate medical students undergoing training shall be termed as a 'District Resident'

According to the Health and Education Ministry order, the UT Level Steering Committee shall constitute of the Administrative Secretary, Health and Medical Education Department as Chairman. The members will include:

• Director, SKIMS Soura,
• Principal, GMC Srinagar and
• Principal, GMC Jammu,
• Director (Coordination) New Medical Colleges, J&K Jammu,
• Director Health Services Kashmir
• Director Health Services Jammu
• Registrar, University of Kashmir and
• Registrar, University of Jammu.

The committee shall be responsible for facilitating implementation, oversight and supervision of the District Residency Programme in Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

Designation of Divisional DRP Nodal Officers shall constitute of

• Registrar Academics GMC Srinagar for Kashmir Division and
• Director (Coordination) new GMC J&K, Jammu for Jammu division.

The role of Divisional DRP Nodal Officer shall be

• to undertake rule-based allotment of the training facilities to the Postgraduate Residents using the platform developed by the Board of Governors in supersession of Medical Council of India.
• to identify and designate hospitals that are suitable for such rotation in terms of the availability of specific specialties, facilities, and services available in consultation with the Directorate of Health Services Kashmir/Jammu and Medical Colleges and develop a placement schedule of the Postgraduate residents of the medical colleges due for Rotation at least 6 months in advance.
• be responsible for grievances redressal at the divisional level. Whereas, Medical Superintendents of District Hospitals are designated as DRPC.

The District Residency Programme The coordinator shall be responsible for orienting the postgraduate residents to the District Health system, structure and the functioning of the District Hospital, planning and supervising the posting and training program. Further they shall be in charge of the activities of DRP residents and shall coordinate with the Divisional Level DRP Nodal Officers and the Medical Colleges. The DRPCshall be responsible for making arrangements of logistics transportation, accommodation, and safety of the District Residents besides for redressing grievances, sanctioning leave to District Residents, etc.

In an interview with Rising Kashmir , Director (coordinator) for new medical colleges J&K, Dr. Yaspal Sharma said that the government has accorded sanction to the program, approved by MCI in 2020.

"We are going to start the DRP soon. The first meeting in this regard would be held on Monday to discuss its implementation with all the principals of medical colleges," he told Rising Kashmir.

Sharma said the rotation would take place in the 3rd or 4th or 5th semester of their PG and It would be done by following a proper roaster in medical colleges. He informed that the program will be implemented with the PG batch joining in 2020-2021.

Sharma said the aim of the program is to expose PG students towards the rural healthcare and involve them in healthcare provided at the district hospital level for learning, adds Rising Kashmir