First modern district hospital in south Kashmir

Srinagar, May 22: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad inaugurated the first phase of the most modern district hospital at Kulgam in south Kashmir.

Immediately after the inauguration, the composite hospital building became functional, setting a new precedent in the state.

In terms of both equipment and building, the hospital is a modern facility to be available at a district headquarters. In fact, the life support and anaesthesia equipment is the first in any district hospital in Jammu and Kashmir.

The medical facilities available in the hospital include anaesthesia equipment, ventilator, blood bank, biochemical analyser, auto analyser, ultrasound, multi-channel ECG machine, GI endoscope and all instruments for conducting major surgeries including eye surgery using the latest phaecoemulsification technology. A dental unit, X-ray and equipment for resuscitation are other facilities available at the new district hospital.

The building, constructed at a cost of Rs 9.88 crores, comprises the out-patient department (OPD), diagnostic unit, blood bank, four operation theatres and 70 in-patient beds.

The building is fitted with heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

The 200 bed in-patient block of the hospital is under construction and would be completed by March next. The total project cost is Rs 22 crore.

The inaugurated building has the facilities of back-up generators and voltage stabilisers and medical gas plant.

The hospital furniture meets the national norms. The inauguration function was attended, among others, by Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma and MLA Muhammad Yusuf Tarigami.

The local people saw in the inauguration of the hospital the realisation of their dream of having modern medical facilities at their doorsteps and appreciated the Chief Minister's efforts in extending facilities to people in all areas.

The construction of the hospital was started in 2002 but remained suspended for about two and a half years due to paucity of funds.

However, the construction was resumed in 2006 and 80 per cent funds made available during 2006 and 2007.

UNI