Omar for declaring medicare as a fundamental right

Predicting the UPA- III after the upcoming elections will enact a legislation declaring medicare as a fundamental right, chief minister Omar Abdullah said on Saturday that the right would legally empower citizens to seek the best medical treatment available free of cost in government health centres all over in the country.

"While the UPA-II government has enacted historic laws such as declaring Right to Food and Right to Education as the basic rights for every citizen of the country, I hope the UPA-III which is prophesied to come to power after the ensuing Parliament election, will enact the necessary legislation in the Parliament making free medical treatment to all the citizens as a fundamental right", said Abdullah.

While inaugurating the Arogya Mela-2013 at Parade ground here, the CM said that the health status of a society indicated its growth and development.

Describing Jammu and Kashmir as 'a state of medicinal plants', Abdullah said that his government had taken various steps to harness this potential and utilise it for both for health and economic purposes.

He said awareness regarding the efficacy of Indian System of Medicine (ISM) needed further push. "The entire stake holders in this field need to focus on this aspect in a comprehensive manner", he added.

"Melas like this provide opportunity to people to know about the medicines their ancestors used to treat various diseases since centuries. They should take best advantage of AYUSH to get various diseases treated effectively", said Abdullah, asking the ISM department to organise such fairs at other places in the state."

First Published: Dec 21, 2013 18:44 IST