Ambulance service close to LoC urged

AJK president tells health secretary hospitals need to be upgraded

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) President Sardar Masood Khan has said that health department should place an efficient ambulance service delivery system in the areas located close to the Line of Control (LOC) and remote areas to provide emergency response and pre-hospital medical care to the patients and victims of Indian shelling.

He expressed these views during his meeting with AJK Health Department Secretary Major General Malik Muhammad Masud who called on him at President House here on Monday.



He also suggested that First Aid Posts should be set up along the main highways in AJK to give timely assistance to the road accident victims.

Expressing his grave concern over growing road accidents and losses of lives, the president said a comprehensive plan is required for reduction of human deaths caused by these accidents.

“First 10 minutes are critical to save a human life after being injured in a major or minor accident. If requisite facilities are well placed and ambulance service delivery system is efficient many lives can be saved from death,” Masood said.

He emphasised that all hospitals located at divisional, and district headquarters should be upgraded in terms of availability of doctors, medicines and diseases diagnosis system so that patients should get medical facilities close to their homes.



“Health care infrastructure is either not available or is insufficient in many rural and remote areas. The health department should make sure that doctors and allied supporting staff is present on the places of their respective jobs and lifesaving drugs are available, the president maintained.

He said that AJK provides a conducive environment for development of pharmaceutical industry and for establishment of quality diagnostic laboratories.

The president also drew the attention of Health secretary towards the problems faced by three medical colleges set up in public sector.

He said all the three colleges are now affiliated with University of Health Sciences and need patronage of the health department to overcome the difficulties.
The medical colleges, he said, need qualified faculty and modern laboratories to provide quality learning environment.

Health Secretary Major General Malik Muhammad Masood expressed his resolve to bring necessary reforms in the health service delivery system.

He said bringing reforms in medicines procurement and distribution system is his first priority.

The health secy further said that he would encourage public-private partnership to improve the health sector besides taking other necessary measures.