From telemedicine to drone-delivered blood units, AI-powered diagnostics to solar cold chains, roadmap for future healthcare must ensure accessible, affordable, equitable care for all: LG Sinha; says with new AIIMS, medical colleges and digital health missions, J&K is becoming a hub of innovation and resilience in the health sector
Srinagar, Aug 29 (BuzzBytes): Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday inaugurated the 3rd edition of the CII Jammu & Kashmir Health Conclave, emphasising the transformative vision of “Health Services Anytime, Anywhere” and highlighting the role of innovation, resilience and inclusive growth in shaping the future of healthcare.
Extending best wishes to Ujala Cygnus for its new initiative, the “Peace and Wellbeing Foundation,” the Lieutenant Governor said the conclave offered a collective opportunity to redefine healthcare delivery in Jammu and Kashmir and other states.
Citing the example of an ASHA worker using tele-consultation to connect patients in remote villages with district hospitals, the Lieutenant Governor said telemedicine was a revolutionary step that eliminates geographical barriers, and stressed that technology must serve humanity so that even the most remote communities have access to timely medical care. He urged stakeholders to make Jammu and Kashmir a laboratory for low-cost, high-impact innovations such as drone-based delivery of medical supplies and solar-powered cold chains for high-altitude health centres.
The Lieutenant Governor outlined three pressing challenges confronting global health systems, including rising healthcare expenditure, and called for a shift towards prevention, early intervention and regular screening to reduce dependence on costly treatments. “We need to move beyond a system that treats illness to one that protects and promotes health. We must prioritise regular screening, easy access to primary healthcare services and timely treatment,” he said, adding that expanding training capacity, supporting the wellbeing of medical staff and leveraging telemedicine to extend reach were equally important.
He said that under the Prime Minister’s leadership, accessibility, affordability and universal insurance coverage have been ensured and health inequality has been eliminated, and that efforts are underway to link health records across the country through a secure digital system that will let any authorised doctor access a patient’s history within moments, while patients retain control over who can view their information.
The Lieutenant Governor noted significant progress in Jammu and Kashmir’s healthcare infrastructure, including two new AIIMS institutions, ten new medical colleges, two State Cancer Institutes, specialised Bone & Joint and Paediatric hospitals, 52 nursing colleges, 23 paramedical colleges and five pharmacy colleges, calling them historic steps towards social justice and equitable healthcare. He urged the conclave to deliberate on developing modern primary health centres in every village linked to district networks, harnessing AI for early detection of disease, strengthening disease surveillance and genomic capacity, local manufacturing of diagnostic kits, and building a robust health workforce through nursing and paramedical institutions.
“Private hospitals and industries associated with the health sector must also join this effort, recognising it as an important task of nation-building. I believe that the strongest health systems are those in which the government and the private sector work together for public welfare, combining their capabilities, speed and innovation,” the Lieutenant Governor said, adding that he envisioned a future where families in Kupwara need not travel hours for routine care, workers in Rajouri are free from financial fear, and medical graduates can build their careers within the Union Territory.
Iqram Ali Shafiee, Chairman, CII J&K UT Council; Dr Shuchin Bajaj, Founder Director, Ujala Cygnus Hospitals; Siddhant Choudhary, Vice Chairman, CII J&K; Dr Pervez Ahmad Sofi and Arafat Ahmad Bhat, Members, Board of Directors, Peace and Wellbeing Foundation; Sajad Hussain Lone, members of the Confederation of Indian Industry and healthcare professionals attended the inaugural ceremony. GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, and senior officials were also present—(BuzzBytes)
