The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India will set up a Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC), a first such facility for Jammu and Kashmir to be established in Srinagar, officials said.
As mandated under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), the Health Ministry plans to set up fifteen HEOCs in State/UT Health Departments in the country.
“Considering the composite disaster risk, disease outbreak and health index of the State, it may seem imperative to establish one such centre in Jammu & Kashmir,” read a communication of the ministry as shared by a senior official of the health department.
These HEOCs are envisioned to act as a hub with requisite Information Communication Technology tools for coordinated preparedness and response activities before, during and in the aftermath of disasters as well other public health emergencies.
“As conveyed earlier, the cost of setting up of this facility shall be borne by this Ministry and the State Government is required to provide built up space of 250 sq. mts. with requisite services for common utilities to make the HEOCs operational,” the communication said.
Earlier on Aug 22, Director Health Services Kashmir (DHSK), Dr Jehangir Bakshi conducted a joint visit with senior officers from NHM J&K to PHC Chanapora and MMC Sanat Nagar.
The official said during the visit DHSK reviewed the status of establishment of HEOC as per the directions of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, GoI at PHC Chanapora.
“The HEOCs are designed to provide robust responses to health emergencies and play a critical role in coordinating and managing health crises, ensuring timely interventions, and improving overall emergency preparedness and response at both state and national levels,” the official said.
In the Budget speech of FY 21-22, ‘Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana’ scheme now renamed PM-ABHIM was announced on February 01, 2021, with an outlay of about Rs. 64,180 Cr over six years (till FY 25-26).
The Scheme was approved by the Cabinet in its meeting held on 15th September, 2021. This scheme is in addition to the National Health Mission.
They said the measures focus on developing capacities of health systems and institutions across the continuum of care at all levels viz. primary, secondary and tertiary and on preparing health systems to respond effectively to current and future pandemics/disasters.
The Mission targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels for effectively detecting, investigating, preventing, and combating health emergencies and disease outbreaks.
The PM-ABHIM is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with some Central Sector Components, for implementation of the Atmanirbhar Bharat Package for health sector as announced by Hon’ble Finance Minister in May 2020.
It aims to fill critical gaps in health infrastructure, surveillance and health research spanning both urban and rural areas so that communities are Atmanirbhar in managing health crises. It is the largest Pan-India scheme for public health infrastructure since 2005.
