By: Tariq Shah VOV

Srinagar

Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday has said that there is a need for more infrastructure for the health care system in Jammu and Kashmir but it should be responding to the needs of the people and there should be the priorities while enhancing the system.

The recent two covid waves have shown that the health care system needs enhancement but it should be on the scientific lines based on needs.

According to the press release by Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Thursday President DAK, Dr Mohd Yusuf Tak said that coronavirus has exposed unpreparedness of all countries to handle the pandemic and teaches us a lesson that in future healthcare systems should be prepared to battle pandemics in addition to indigenous diseases. Jammu and Kashmir Health and medical education department has managed both ist and 2nd Covid waves effectively and much better than other states. The credit goes to selfless work of all employees of Health and Medical Education department from top to bottom.

“We feel extremely proud of our fraternity who have saved so many lives and are dedicated to their job. During this pandemic our doctors sustained all emergency non-COVID-19 services including maternal and child health, immunization, management of heart attacks and strokes, emergency operations,” he said.

Dr Mohd Ashraf Mir, Senior VP said the pandemic has taught them lessons and now it is time to critically look and analyze our health care delivery system, human resources management and health policies.

“This viral pandemic forced us to divide, classify existing health infrastructure and manpower which was in complete balance. With the coronavirus disease burden and non-COVID-19 it jeopardized the non-COVID patient management as well,” he said.

Dr Owais H Dar, General Secretary DAK said like earthquakes they had never thought about such a pandemic, that has killed lakhs of people within months and crippled the economy of countries.

“Therefore it is now time to expand, develop and design hospitals with separate infection disease units in all medical colleges and district hospitals so that in future all communicable diseases including viral pandemics will be managed without risking the lives of patients who visit hospitals for non-communicable ailments,” he said.

The doctor’s body suggested that the government should increase health budget and expand infrastructure so that such viral pandemics can’t affect the management of patients suffering from non-communicable diseases like trauma, diabetes, kidney failure, heart failure, strokes.

Vice President, Dr Arshed H Trag paid rich tributes to all the doctors and Paramedics who lost their precious lives across the globe while fighting the novel coronavirus.

“We expressed heartfelt condolences with the bereaved families of deceased doctors and paramedics. It is time that all doctors must come together and join hands to develop a gratuity fund which can be used to fund families of doctors who die while in service and a fixed amount can be given to them at the time of retirement,” he said.

The spokesperson added that it is high time that the Government should address long pending demands of Doctors of Jammu and Kashmir whose files are lying at the civil Secretariat at various stages. In the last more than three years, the association has met all the administrative Officers and we have always got only assurances, nothing concrete has been done so far, he added. We are equally disappointed by administrative apathy but are still hopeful that something concrete will be done.