Minister inspects Baltal base camp hospital

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, July 4

Minister for Health and Medical Education Bali Bhagat has directed the authorities concerned to ensure adequate stock of life-saving drugs, other necessary equipment and portable oxygen cylinders at the main camp for the Amarnath pilgrims.

The minister issued these directions at a meeting of officers to review medical facilities at the base camp of Baltal today after visiting the Amarnath holy cave shrine.

Taking stock of medical facilities for pilgrims, he said the Health Department had a significant role to play during the yatra period and must have best infrastructure to respond to any situation.

Expressing satisfaction over the arrangements at the base camp, Panjtarni and the cave shrine, the minister urged the medicos and paramedics to work with zeal and dedication to provide best possible medicare to the pilgrims. He also asked officials to spread awareness among pilgrims about the precautions to be taken during the yatra.

Inspecting the base camp hospital, Bhagat went around wards and interacted with patients and attendants and got feedback about the facilities being provided there. Saying the government had made foolproof arrangements for the smooth conduct of yatra, the minister stressed on the need to ensure cleanliness and effective sanitation in and around the hospital premises.

Director Health Services, Kashmir, Saleem-ur-Rehman told the minister that elaborate arrangements had been made for extending medical facilities to pilgrims. He said a good number of doctors and para-medics with sufficient stock of life-saving drug and diagnostic facilities were available at the base camp hospital to meet any exigency. In addition, an ISM dispensary had also been established at the hospital.

Along the route also, medical camps have also been set up by the Army, BSF and CRPF, he added.