Srinagar, Sept 2 (JKNS): Jammu and Kashmir Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo on Wednesday urged newly appointed doctors to serve patients with compassion and without discrimination, saying their appointment orders carry a responsibility towards the people, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas.
Addressing the gathering at SKICC Srinagar during the distribution of appointment orders to Medical Officers of the Health and Medical Education Department by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, as per news agency JKNS, Itoo congratulated around 400 doctors appointed through the Jammu and Kashmir Public Service Commission (JKPSC) and their parents, while acknowledging the role of families in helping the doctors achieve their professional goals.
“I would like to welcome all the new appointees, the doctors who have come here and their parents. Becoming a doctor is a very big challenge. There is a lot of work and a lot of studies, but today you have achieved this goal,” Itoo said.
She said the contribution of parents to the success of the newly appointed doctors deserved equal recognition, noting that families stand by students throughout their years of study and hard work.
Minister Itoo said the Health and Medical Education Department had taken several measures during the past two years under the guidance of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to strengthen the healthcare system across Jammu and Kashmir.
She referred to the appointment of 500 doctors through the Public Service Commission last year, saying their deployment had made a significant difference to healthcare delivery and patient care, particularly in remote areas.
She said another batch of around 400 doctors had now been appointed through the Public Service Commission and described their induction as an important step towards addressing the shortage of doctors in the Union Territory.
“I request you that this is a responsibility that starts from today. This is not just an order, but the responsibility that is given to you behind this order,” Itoo told the newly appointed doctors.
Emphasising the importance of doctors’ conduct, she said patients approach doctors with hope and trust and urged the new appointees to treat every patient equally, irrespective of their financial or social background.
“Your behaviour should be very gentle with them, and you should never care whether the patient is rich or poor. The patient should only be a patient for you,” she said.
Itoo also urged the doctors not to seek postings only in Srinagar or Jammu and instead serve in remote areas where the shortage of medical professionals remains a major challenge.
“Wherever you will be given this responsibility, I hope that you will not try to keep us around Srinagar or Jammu, but you will fulfil this responsibility in a better way,” she said.
She said doctors working in difficult and remote locations have an opportunity to leave a lasting impact on communities through both quality treatment and compassionate behaviour.
Itoo said the relationship between a doctor and patient should go beyond prescribing medicines, stressing that respect, empathy and proper communication can leave a lasting impression on patients.
She also appealed to the public to cooperate with doctors and respect their efforts, saying medical professionals often work long hours and sacrifice their sleep and personal time for patient care.
“As far as the health department is concerned, for the last two years, if you look at the referrals which used to come from remote areas to Srinagar or Jammu, there has been a huge difference,” Itoo said.
She attributed the reduction in referrals from remote areas to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, including the introduction of dialysis facilities and installation of advanced medical equipment.
She said the government was working to strengthen facilities such as cath labs and MRI services in remote areas so that patients would not have to travel to Srinagar or Jammu for treatment.
“Our effort is to make the health infrastructure in remote areas as strong as possible, so that the patients there do not have to run to Srinagar or Jammu,” she said.
Itoo acknowledged that the department continued to face a shortage of doctors but said the government was working to recruit more medical professionals to meet the healthcare needs of the people.
She said the government’s objective was to ensure that patients from Jammu and Kashmir could receive quality treatment within the Union Territory rather than having to travel outside for medical care.
Praising doctors from Jammu and Kashmir, Itoo said they possessed the capability and expertise required to provide high-quality healthcare services.
She also thanked Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for according greater importance to the health sector during the past two years and supporting the department in strengthening healthcare infrastructure.
Itoo concluded by congratulating the newly appointed doctors and urged them to discharge their responsibilities with dedication, professionalism and compassion.
“I hope that wherever you are, you will continue to do this in a better way, and the treatment that you will give to the people should be better,” she said. (JKNS)
