Calls for Strengthening Primary Healthcare, Upgrading SDH Bijbehara, Expanding Higher Education
Diplomat Correspondent
Jammu, (DD): Senior legislator Dr. Bashir Veeri, MLA Bijbehara, strongly advocated for key healthcare and education reforms while speaking on the demand for grants in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly. With the intervention of Chief Minister and Leader of the House Omar Abdullah, Dr. Veeri highlighted the need for improving healthcare infrastructure, ensuring accountability in medical referrals, and expanding higher education opportunities in the region.
Praises Medical Fraternity, Calls for Strengthening Healthcare System
Dr. Veeri commended the dedication of doctors and healthcare professionals who have served under difficult circumstances over the past three decades. He also lauded the Health Department for achieving remarkable progress in health indicators, surpassing the national average.
He emphasized the urgent need to stabilize and strengthen the primary healthcare system while enhancing secondary-level capacity to reduce the burden on tertiary care institutions. He reiterated the vision of Sher-i-Kashmir Sheikh Abdullah to transform SKIMS into a hub for medical tourism and called for research into the growing cancer cases in J&K, describing it as a “silent epidemic.”
Demands Upgradation of SDH Bijbehara and Infrastructure Development
Dr. Veeri strongly advocated for upgrading SDH Bijbehara to a district-level hospital with improved infrastructure and additional manpower. He also stressed the need for equipping all PHCs, NTPHCs, health centers, and sub-centers with adequate staff and resources. Additionally, he urged the government to create posts for dental surgeons to address the growing demand for oral healthcare services.
He also called for accountability in medical referrals, suggesting that all LSCS (Lower Segment Cesarean Section) procedures be properly documented with justifications and proof to prevent unnecessary surgical interventions.
Pushes for Expansion of Higher Education, Declaring GDC Anantnag as Deemed University
Turning to education, Dr. Veeri proposed the expansion of the South Kashmir Campus into a full-fledged university. He also demanded that Government Degree College (GDC) Anantnag be declared a deemed university to enhance higher education opportunities in the region.
He underscored the need for strategic investment in education, particularly the construction of residential accommodations for teaching and non-teaching staff in all degree colleges across J&K. Furthermore, he recommended introducing tourism as a subject at the 10+2 level in higher secondary schools and creating specialized posts for this field, given J&K’s immense tourism potential.
Seeks Better Pay for Contractual Professors, Regularization of CPWs and HDF Workers
Dr. Veeri also raised concerns about the welfare of teaching and non-teaching staff.(DD)