Memorandum submitted to Health Minister
JAMMU, Aug 10: A delegation of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), Jammu & Kashmir Unit, on Monday met Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo and submitted a memorandum seeking urgent reforms to strengthen and streamline public healthcare services across the Jammu Division.
The delegation highlighted several systemic deficiencies in government hospitals, stating that senior consultants are often unavailable after morning OPD hours and ward rounds, leaving emergency and night-time patient care largely dependent on junior doctors and postgraduate residents. It also pointed to the recurring shortage of essential and life-saving medicines, forcing economically weaker patients to purchase costly medicines from private pharmacies.
The memorandum further flagged persistent delays in diagnostic reports, prolonged breakdown of medical equipment, inadequate sanitation and basic facilities in hospital wards, and complaints regarding insensitive behaviour by some hospital staff towards patients and their attendants. It said these shortcomings have adversely affected public confidence in the government healthcare system.
Shiv Sena urged the government to impose a complete ban on private practice by government doctors and enforce strict disciplinary action against those violating service rules. It also demanded round-the-clock deployment of senior consultants in emergency and critical care departments, surprise inspections during night shifts, strict biometric attendance monitoring, uninterrupted availability of essential medicines, and the implementation of a comprehensive code of conduct to ensure dignified, transparent and patient-centric healthcare.
“Government hospitals are meant to serve the people, not to function as referral centres for private practice. The government must immediately curb this practice and ensure complete accountability in public healthcare institutions,” the party said.
The delegation expressed confidence that the Health Minister would take prompt and effective measures to address these public welfare concerns and ensure accessible, transparent and quality healthcare services for the people of Jammu Division.
The delegation included Meenakshi Chibber (President Women Wing) Sanjeev Kohli, (Working President) and Sanjay Bhatt, (General Secretary (Org.)).