STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: The Out-Patient Department (OPD) services will start at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jammu along with other facilities within a fortnight, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said on Sunday.
Accompanied by Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh, Nadda inspected the Vijaypur campus of the AIIMS and reviewed its facilities and infrastructure, expressing hope that no patient of Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh will have to go to PGI Chandigarh or Delhi for treatment anymore.
“This is my first visit to AIIMS Vijaypur after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assigned me to the health ministry. I inspected the facilities and was given a presentation. I tried to know how AIIMS is progressing and I want to congratulate the people of Jammu and Kashmir, especially Jammu for being one of the best health institutions having facilities, infrastructure, equipment, appliances and logistics at par with world standards,” the health minister told reporters.
Nadda, who is also BJP National President, said given the inspection and discussion with the hospital authorities, the OPD services along with other facilities will start within a fortnight.

“The faculty recruitment is going on at a very fast pace and our attempt is to provide the best faculty. Some best doctors and professors have already joined,” he said, adding a hospital like AIIMS requires at least a decade to grow to its full potential. Seeking cooperation of the people, he said the AIIMS Vijaypur is a gift of the prime minister to the people of Jammu.
e said Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the AIIMS, Jammu in February this year and presently four batches of medical students are getting education at the institute.
“The first batch started with 50 students and the second and third with 62 students each, while the fourth batch comprises 100 students,” he said.
Earlier, addressing a gathering including students, Nadda said with the operationalisation of the AIIMS Jammu, no patient of Jammu and Kashmir and adjoining Punjab and Himachal will need to go to PGI Chandigarh or Delhi for treatment.
The patients will now be treated in this institute, he said, asking the doctors to ensure that the benefits of the government schemes like Ayushman Bharat reaches to the common citizens.
He said the government is also planning to digitalize the health records in the country and “we are moving in that direction”.
Nadda said the people of the country have a lot of “expectations and aspirations from all of us and we have to fulfil all these to their satisfaction”.
Tarun Chugh, BJP National General Secretary and In-charge of of Jammu and Kashmir, Jugal Kishore Sharma, Member Parliament, and Member of Institute Body, AIIMS Jammu, Gulam Ali Khatana, Member f Parliament, Ravinder Raina, State President of BJP, Surjit Singh Slathia, Chander Prakash Ganga and Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, all former ministers, Devender Singh Rana, former legislator and other senior leaders of BJP accompanied the Union Health Minister.
The Union Minister visited various facilities including the Digital Library with e-books, e-journals apart from hard copies of books & professional journals. The distinguished features showcased at the library include carrels for research work, state-of-the-art digital dashboard, automated book issue and deposit device and the RFID security gate at the entrance of the Digital Library.
The Union Health Minister was warmly received by the Executive Director (ED) & CEO, AIIMS Jammu, Prof. (Dr) Shakti Kumar Gupta, who expressed his gratitude to the Union Health Minister for his visit despite hectic schedule and guiding AIIMS Jammu in its endeavours to become a world class healthcare Institute. The Director extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Union Health Minister on his appointment as the Health Minister of India.
He said the previous tenure of J. P Nadda as Health Minister was marked by remarkable achievements and set new benchmarks in the healthcare sector and it includes the launch of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY), which aims to provide health coverage to over 10 crore families, and his pivotal role in expanding immunization programs across the country.
The Union Health Minister also visited the modern Lecture Theatres for students with state-of-the-art Smart Boards, special features of which were demonstrated to the dignitaries. He expressed his happiness that AIIMS Jammu is incorporating technology advancements in pedagogy at AIIMS Jammu.
The Minister also inspected the Outpatient Department (OPD), including the registration counters and “Indoor Navigation System” for patients. The Minister highly appreciated the inclusion of an “Indoor Navigation System” for the ease of patients to reach their desired department/destination, noting that this is the first AIIMS to have such a facility.
The Union Minister encouraged the faculty to persist in their pursuit of knowledge, service and research. The Minister commended their dedication and hard work, emphasizing the importance of continued excellence and innovation in healthcare and education. He remarked, “AIIMS Jammu is an institution that embodies the aspirations and dreams of countless individuals. It’s a beacon of hope not only for the people of J&K, but also for that of Leh, and other neighbouring states like Punjab and Himchal Pradesh”. He assured all the possible help and support to the institution in ensuring better healthcare access for millions.
He emphasised that skill & talent should never be compromised and exalted the faculty to work tirelessly to develop an “AIIMS culture which is an amalgam of selflessness, dedication, competency, integrity, innovation and trust. The patients need these to place their unwavering faith and trust in the hands of the Healthcare providers.
Regarding collaborative efforts, the Union Minister emphasised the need for focussing on applied research and focus on education with practical. He reiterated that each new AIIMS has an AYUSH Block and that the Modern Medicine & AYUSH should work together for patient care activities and research and formulate collaborative fundamentals of evidence based holistic Medicine processes systems.

Nadda offers prayers at Raghunath Temple

JAMMU: Union minister and BJP national president J P Nadda paid obeisance at historic Raghunath Mandir here on Sunday. Accompanied by Union minister Jitendra Singh and BJP national general secretary in-charge of Jammu and Kashmir Tarun Chugh, Nadda was received at the temple by party leaders, including MP Jugal Kishore and former minister Priya Sethi.
Nadda reached Jammu on Saturday afternoon to take part in a ‘Vistarit Karyasamiti Baithak’ of the BJP.
The BJP president visited the party headquarters here to chair a meeting with senior leaders.
The meeting assumes significance with Nadda urging party workers on Saturday to be prepared for the assembly elections in the Union territory. Last year in December, the Supreme Court directed the Election Commission to conduct assembly polls in Jammu and Kashmir by September 30, 2024. A BJP leader said the meeting was convened by Nadda to discuss the party strategy for the upcoming elections.