Rs 120 crore central assistance foe upgrading GMC, Jammu

Jammu, Mar 13 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minisrter Ghulam Nabi Azad told the state Assembly today that the central government has given an assistance of Rs 120 crore for upgrading the government medical college at Jammu.

Mr Azad is also holding the portfolio of health and medical education. In a reply to a question in state Assembly today, he said Rs 22 crore were also released during 2005-06 out of state plans for improving the health facilities in the state especially in far flung and rural areas.

The Chief Minster said 132 health institutions have been established upgraded by creation of 1,304 posts in various catagories. Besides, the upgradation of district hospital Kargil from 75 to 100 beds, ten primary health centres to community health centres and conversion of district hospital Kathua and Anantnag into maternity and child care hospital, the government has established 43 primary health centres, 47 sub-centres and 27 medical aid centres in the state.

Mr Azad said with the central assistance a regional cancer centre has been set up at Sher-a-Kashmir institute of medical science (SKIMS) at Soura. The oncology department at medical college, Jammu and Srinagar too are upgraded, he added.

He said during current financial year Rs 210.62 crore have been provided for health sector, whereas Rs 231.47 crore proposed for 2006-07 annual plan.

UNI RKS SY DB1834