They raised many issues concerned with the overall welfare and development of the Department including engagement of unemployed AYUSH doctors on the pattern of Rehbar-Sehat Scheme. The minister gave a patient hearing to these doctors, who briefed him in detail about the achievements of the department during last decade. The minister assured the doctors of Kashmir Division that very soon, Govt. Unani Medical College, Nawabagh Ganderbal will be commissioned for providing the quality Medical Education in the field of Unani Medicine besides the best available patient care services through Unani Medicines in the state. He also informed that two 50- Beded AYUSH hospitals would be soon sanctioned by Ministry of AYUSH Govt. of India for the state one each in Jammu and Kashmir. Rehbar Sehat Scheme to appoint unemployed ISM doctors in the state is under consideration ,the minister asserted. The minister also directed to spread awareness about traditional medicines on social media. He also desired that ISM doctors meet Hon’ble Chief Minister of the State to apprise her about good things in the department.
The delegation apprised the Minister about the developments of the department which was in shambles before 2004, with no scope for new innovations and no hope of rejuvenation. They informed the minister about the AYUSH facilities extending from all district hospitals to PHCs, CHCs, to tertiary hospitals like 50 bedded Unani Hospital Srinagar and 50 bedded Ayurvedic hospital Jammu.
They also called the last decade from 2006-2016 as golden period of AYUSH in J&K in which Unani & Ayurveda became the household name in every nook and corner of the state. Up gradation of Ayurvedic Hospital Jammu, with commissioning of 50-Bedded Unani Hospital Srinagar , construction of 50-Bedded Integrated AYUSH Hospital Harwan, Srinagar, Establishment of Twenty Two 10-Bedded AYUSH Hospitals in all District Hospitals with creation of 100 ISM (Unani &Ayuvedic) Dispensaries are some noted achievements of previous years under the dynamic leadership of present Secretary Technical H&ME Dr.Abdul Kabir Dar. Hundreds of IEC programs and free medical camps were organized to popularize these age old and time tested Indian Systems of Medicine in last few years. Thousands of hectares of forest land was brought under conservation of Medicinal Plants. Research and development activities were introduced in the department. 100 school herbal gardens have been established to boost Medicinal Plants sector from grass root level. Norms for paramedical training courses and private AYUSH Hospitals / retail clinics were established. Hundreds of ISM doctors were engaged under NHM and RBSK along with pharmacists during last few years.
They requested the minister to safeguard these assets of the AYUSH department in the state by making it a frontrunner in providing basic Health care facilities to the masses. They also put forward a memorandum of pending issues of the Department to the minister calling for immediate creation of staff for Unani Hospital Shalteng Srinagar and 22 Co-located AYUSH Hospitals being run on internal arrangement basis. They urged the minister to help the department in vacating the stay of High Court with regard to 50-Beded Integrated AYUSH Hospital so that poor ailing patients of that area can avail the cost effective services through AYUSH (Unani & Ayurveda) Systems of Medicines.
On this occasion Secretary Technical, Health & Medical Education, Dr.Abdul Kabir Dar stressed upon the visiting doctors to work with honesty and punctuality. He appealed them to avoid cross prescription and stick to their own systems of medicines to which they are registered. He also warned that strict disciplinary action under rules will be taken against the absentees and defaulters.
In the end all doctors thanked Hon’ble minister for his patient hearing who assured them to promote AYUSH in J&K on a large scale. The minister also assured to bring in complete transparency and accountability in the department by having performance based audit from all concerned. He also assured that any person/persons engaged in promoting the negative campaign against the department to tarnish its hard earned image will be identified and strictly dealt with. The Minister also assured that new creations in the department is on the anvil. He also informed that two 50 bedded AYUSH Hospitals will be set up during the current financial year one in Jammu and One in Kashmir Division.