KUPWARA, OCTOBER 22: District Development Commissioner (DDC) Kupwara Abhishek Sharma chaired a comprehensive review meeting today to assess the overall functioning, institutional readiness, and healthcare delivery mechanisms of the Health Department across the district.
The meeting was attended by Principal, Government Medical College (GMC) Handwara, Prof. (Dr.) Khursheed Ahmad Wani; Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Handwara; Sub-Divisional Magistrates (SDMs) of Lolab and Karnah; Chief Planning Officer (CPO) Kupwara; Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Kupwara, along with other senior district and sectoral officers.
During the meeting, Principal GMC Handwara presented a detailed overview outlining the operational status, institutional capacity, patient care facilities, and current staff positioning at GMC Handwara. Taking stock of institutional safety, the DDC impressed upon the Principal to immediately conduct a comprehensive fire safety audit across all associated facilities to ensure patient and infrastructure security.
Reviewing the primary and secondary healthcare sector, the CMO briefed the chair on manpower allocation, healthcare outreach, and facility-wise progress. The DDC laid strong emphasis on quality assurance, directing health administrators to rigorously fulfill parameters required for National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) and LaQshya certifications to upgrade maternal and newborn care standards.
In view of the approaching harsh winter season, the DDC underscored the urgency of robust winter preparedness, noting that rural and high-altitude health centers often witness heightened patient influx and logistical constraints. He sought ground-level feedback from SDM Karnah regarding the specific medical requirements of the snow-bound sub-division and instructed the CMO to ensure optimum rationalization of medical and paramedical staff, alongside uninterrupted stocking of essential drugs, heating arrangements, and critical medical supplies.
While evaluating preventive healthcare programs, the DDC voiced serious displeasure over the underwhelming progress of Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screening in certain health blocks. He directed the CMO to immediately seek explanations from the concerned block authorities and roll out corrective measures without delay.
The DDC further instructed the CMO and senior supervisory officers to conduct frequent field inspections across all peripheral health centers to ensure punctuality, maintain hygienic conditions, and ensure hassle-free healthcare delivery to the general public.
