Privatisation of health sector in J&K

Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to privatise the health sector in the state to improve the health facilities, reports Amir Karim Tantray.

Jammu and Kashmir government has decided to privatise the health sector in the state to improve the health facilities.

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Minister for Health Sham Lal Sharma said, "Government is ready to privatise the health sector but people interested in it should come forward and get the hold of the sector."

Speaking during a function on prevention of AIDS, organised by Flawrence Public School in Jammu, Sharma said, "Like the education sector in which people have come forward in large numbers and have made a difference, interested people should come forward to enter into health sector as well."

"The government is even ready to hand over its already running district hospitals for the purpose," said Sharma, adding, "As a first step we are ready to give the district hospital Sarwal in Jammu city for the purpose and later other district hospitals are also available."

If the decision is implemented in the state, it will boost the health sector and people will get better facilities at the doorstep of people.

Sham Lal Sharma said, "In J&K government hospitals bear a share of 91 per cent of total rush of patients and only 9 per cent is with the private hospitals. But the need of hour is that ratio should change and privatisation of hospitals should be done. When privatisation would be done, we are hopeful that health sector will be back on track within next five years."

Due to the absence of better health facilities at various district hospitals in the state, people are rushing towards government medical college in Jammu and Sher-e-Kashmir Medical Institute (SKIMS) Srinagar. But now, if the district hospitals would privatised, it may provide better health facilities to people at district headquarters.