Anantnag May 14, (KNS) : Minister for Health and Medical Education, Sakina Itoo, on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare services across Jammu & Kashmir.
During her visit to Trauma Hospital Bijbehara, she inaugurated the Ayush and Wellness Centre along with the OPD block, addressing a long-standing demand of the local population.
In a conversation with Kashmir News Service (KNS), Itoo stated that the project was first conceptualized during the earlier tenure of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and has now been completed under the present government. “This initiative was pending since 2014, and it’s a matter of satisfaction that under Omar Sahib’s leadership once again, we are able to deliver it to the people,” she said.
She added that the Director of Ayush has been instructed to ensure full operationalization of the centre, which will provide yoga, naturopathy, and other wellness services. “We are hopeful that this facility will serve thousands in Bijbehara and surrounding areas,” she said.
Itoo emphasized that the Bijbehara Trauma Hospital will be further upgraded to deliver advanced healthcare. “Good health is the foundation of progress. We want to ensure that people get quality treatment at their doorstep,” she remarked.
She noted that the present administration, under Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, has prioritized health in the budget and ensured expansion of services.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel“District Hospital Anantnag is a success story. Patients receive specialized treatment there now, which wasn’t possible earlier,” she told KNS.
Sharing data on recruitment, she said the government has appointed 319 doctors for remote areas and issued appointment orders for another 105. “Our aim is to strengthen public hospitals so that people don’t have to rely on private care,” Itoo asserted.
Addressing awareness around Ayush, she acknowledged the need for public education. “Many don’t know about Ayush. We will raise awareness about its benefits and low side effects,” she said, encouraging the use of traditional medicine systems alongside modern care.
She also mentioned her initiative to identify unused school buildings for possible conversion into health facilities. “We’ve asked departments to provide details of vacant infrastructure so it can be repurposed for public use,” she said.
Sakina Itoo concluded by assuring people that under the leadership of Omar Abdullah, the government is determined to enhance health services and make wellness accessible across every region of Jammu & Kashmir. (KNS)