The Jammu and Kashmir government has installed over 900 ventilators across hospitals to strengthen its healthcare in meeting COVID 19 challenges.
As the pandemic has put an extra burden on hospitals, the government said it has taken several steps to streamline and strengthen the public health system.
“So far 904 ventilators have been installed in hospitals. In addition, 145 ventilators have been procured and provided by Jammu and Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited (JKMSCL) for the health care institutions,” the official said.
The official said that in the last 100 days, the government took a number of steps to strengthen the public health system including oxygen facilities at peripheral hospitals.
“The government approved Oxygen Generation Plants in all tertiary care hospitals, district hospitals and other major hospitals to increase the oxygen availability pool with a project cost of Rs 227.73 crore,” the official said.
He said it is aimed to streamline oxygen supply in the hospitals to reduce the dependence on storing and supply of oxygen adding it has approved the installation of oxygen generation plants.
The official said that the works are in the process of execution by the Mechanical Engineering Department adding that part of funds have also been released to the executing agencies.
“To reduce manpower shortage, 900 vacant posts of medical officers stand referred to the Public Service Commission (PSC) and the process of recruitment is underway,” he said.
The official said that more than 8 lakh persons have so far been registered for JK Health Scheme which is also known as ‘Sehat’.
“16,503 oxygen cylinders have been procured during the COVID-19 pandemic by JKMSCL and provided to hospitals as per their demand. In addition, 3566 oxygen concentrators, 320 high flow nasal oxygen therapy units were also procured by JKMSCL,” the official said.
