By:- Dr. ADS Manhas
The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is facing a critical juncture in its healthcare delivery system. Despite significant advancements and investments, public trust in healthcare institutions has deteriorated due to persistent challenges and stakeholder dissatisfaction. Urgent, systemic interventions are needed to restore confidence and improve the quality of patient care.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has launched a multitude of initiatives to bolster the public health delivery system, collaborating with state governments to drive transformative change. Despite substantial investments in infrastructure development, healthcare facility upgrades, and augmenting the healthcare workforce, a concerning trend persists – public dissatisfaction with the quality of patient care in these institutions.
This paradox underscores the complexities of healthcare delivery and highlights the need for a nuanced approach to address the multifaceted challenges plaguing the system.
The Health and Medical Education Department in Jammu and Kashmir provides a wide range of
services to its citizens, including:
Emergency Medical Services: Providing critical care and stabilization to patients in
emergency situations.
Hospital Care: Offering comprehensive medical treatment and care to patients in
hospitals.
Medical Education: Imparting quality education and training to medical students through:
Medical Colleges (UG, PG, Super Specialty levels)
Nursing Colleges
ANMT Schools
Universal Health Insurance: Providing financial protection to families through the
Ayushman Bharat Sehat Scheme, with coverage of Rs. 500,000 per family.
Ensuring availability and supply of:
Medicines
Consumables
Biomedical Equipment (through JKMSCL)
Up-gradation and maintenance of:
Equipment
Infrastructure
Health Policy and Planning: Developing and implementing policies to improve
healthcare delivery and outcomes.
Despite these efforts, challenges persist. At the primary level, below district and sub-district levels,
complaints often revolve around:
Staff absenteeism
Non-availability of essential supplies, including medicines and consumables
At the secondary level, unnecessary referrals to tertiary institutions are a major concern.
Meanwhile, at the tertiary level, complaints typically involve:
Non-cooperative attitude of staff
Patients being neglected
Patients being motivated to visit private hospitals where the same government healthcare
professionals provide services for financial gain
This contrasting behavior leads to significant mistrust among patients visiting government health
institutions.
To improve patient care, the following measures are suggested:
Regulate private nursing homes/hospitals: Ensure that all private healthcare facilities
meet the desired criteria and standards.
Rational transfers of healthcare staff: Implement transfers after a certain period to
prevent the development of nexus between surgeons and nursing home owners.
Ban or restrictions on private practice by doctors: Consider banning or restricting
private practice to prevent conflicts of interest.
Limit Ayushman Bharat scheme beneficiaries: Consider limiting the scheme to
vulnerable populations, such as BPL families, handicapped individuals, widows, and senior
citizens above 65 years.
Capping procedures under Ayushman Bharat: Expand the list of capped procedures
and consider excluding certain procedures, like cataract surgery, from private hospitals.
Prioritize government hospitals: Prioritize government hospitals and state cancer
institutes for certain treatments, such as radiation oncology packages.
These suggestions aim to address the root causes of public dissatisfaction and improve the overall quality of patient care in government health institutions and are not meant to demean any healthcare professional working in the public or private health sector. By implementing these measures, we can work towards a more efficient, equitable, and patient-centric healthcare delivery system in Jammu and Kashmir for the satisfaction of all stakeholders.
