Srinagar: The Department of Health and Medical Education, J&K, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, on Saturday convened the National Review Meeting for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra (SANJY) 2025 at the Banquet Hall in Srinagar.
The high-level meeting as per news agency JKNS brought together senior officials, key stakeholders, and health experts from across India to assess previous experiences and strategize enhanced medical preparedness for the upcoming pilgrimage. The focus remained on streamlining coordination and strengthening medical infrastructure and emergency response mechanisms.
Dr. Syed Abid Rashid Shah (IAS), Secretary, Health & Medical Education, J&K, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his keynote address, he reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring a robust healthcare support system for pilgrims. He stressed the importance of issuing Compulsory Health Certificates only after thoroughly assessing the health condition of intending pilgrims. “This step is vital in reducing morbidity and saving lives during the Yatra,” he emphasized.
Dr. Shah also lauded various states for consistently deputing medical specialists and officers for SANJY duties over the years. He urged them to continue supporting the Yatra by deploying the required number of healthcare professionals, particularly cardiologists, respiratory physicians, and anesthetists for Yatra 2025.
The event also featured the unveiling of the SANJY 2025 Yatra Booklet and distribution of appreciation certificates to participating states and institutions, JKNS Learnt.
Participating States and Institutions included Delhi, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Telangana, Maharashtra, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, and West Bengal. Leading national medical institutions like AIIMS (New Delhi, Raipur, Jodhpur, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Bhopal, Rishikesh), PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER Puducherry, Banaras Hindu University Medical College, RML Hospital, LHMC, Safdarjung Hospital, and Aligarh Muslim University Medical College took part. Jammu and Kashmir was represented by SKIMS Medical College and Government Medical Colleges of Jammu, Srinagar, and Anantnag.
The session included a detailed presentation on Emergency Medical Response (EMR) by Dr. L Swasticharan, Additional DDG & Director EMR, MoHFW, who highlighted emergency strategies and operational best practices. Dr. Sujata Chaudhary, Additional Director General Health Services, MoHFW, also spoke on the national-level coordination efforts aimed at enhancing medical readiness and ensuring a safe pilgrimage. (JKNS)
