JAMMU, JUNE 08: Director Health Services Jammu, Dr Poonam Sethi, accompanied by the Epidemiologist, Dr Rashmi Sharma, Directorate of Health Services Jammu concluded a comprehensive two-day review visit to the districts of Poonch and Rajouri aimed at assessing healthcare delivery, programme implementation and patient care services across the districts.
During the visit, Dr Poonam Sethi undertook an extensive inspection of District Hospital Poonch visiting various wards and sections of the hospital to evaluate their functioning and service delivery. She interacted with doctors, nursing staff and healthcare workers, emphasising the importance of maintaining professionalism, punctuality, humility and patient-centric care. She directed all healthcare personnel to extend every possible assistance to patients and attendants and ensure quality healthcare services at all times.
The Director also reviewed the functioning of key facilities including the Assured Treatment Facility and Dialysis Unit, where she assessed service delivery mechanisms and instructed the staff concerned to further strengthen these critical services in the larger interest of patient care.
On the second day, a high-level review meeting was held at District Hospital Poonch where Chief Medical Officer Poonch, Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Khan, presented a detailed overview of the achievements and progress under various national and state health programmes in the district. Accordingly, instructions were given to Medical Superintendent District Hospital Poonch, Dr Mohd Shafeeq; Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ruby Naz Bhatti; District Health Officer and District Tuberculosis Officer, Dr Mohd Azam; Block Medical Officer Mendhar, Dr Gazala Chowdhury; Block Medical Officer Surankote, Dr Mohd Yousf; Block Medical Officer Mandi, Dr Reyaz Jan and members of the District Programme Unit and Block Programme Unit teams from all blocks to conduct training sessions at regular intervals for all schemes. In addition, monitoring and evaluation of all the schemes must be carried out.
The review highlighted commendable performance in OPD and IPD services, TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK), Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY Sehat and Vay Vandana schemes, Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) screening, cancer screening and follow-up as per format and digital health initiatives under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) including Electronic Medical Records (EMR).
The Director was informed that the NICU and PICU at District Hospital Poonch are functioning effectively, providing specialised care to neonates and children. She also reviewed the status of dialysis services and directed the authorities concerned to expedite the operationalisation of Dialysis Units at SDH Mendhar, SDH Surankote and SDH Mandi to improve access to life-saving services in peripheral areas.
Appreciating the efforts of the district health administration, Dr Poonam Sethi lauded the Poonch health team under the leadership of Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Khan for achieving improvements in healthcare delivery, programme implementation and digital transformation despite the challenges posed by difficult geographical terrain.
Dr Parvaiz Ahmed Khan expressed gratitude to the Director of Health Services Jammu for her guidance and support and assured that the district health team would continue working with dedication to further improve healthcare indicators and strengthen service delivery across Poonch district.
The Director of Health Services Jammu also visited PHC Surankote and PHC Thanamandi along with Chief Medical Officer Rajouri and Block Medical Officer Thanamandi, where she appreciated the work done under the leadership of the respective Block Medical Officers.
