OnlyKashmir.in News Desk
Udhampur, August 11: Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakeena Itoo on Monday inaugurated a 128-slice CT scan machine at Government Medical College (GMC) and Associated Hospital, Udhampur, marking a major addition to the institution’s diagnostic infrastructure.
The advanced CT facility has been installed at a cost of ₹8.30 crore and is expected to strengthen the hospital’s capacity to provide faster and more accurate diagnostic services to patients. The facility will be particularly useful for emergency, trauma, neurological, cardiac and other specialised investigations.
Speaking after the inauguration, Sakeena Itoo said the installation of the advanced diagnostic equipment was an important step towards improving healthcare services at GMC Udhampur. She said the government remains committed to ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare, with continued focus on strengthening Government Medical Colleges and their associated hospitals.
The new machine is equipped to support advanced diagnostic procedures, including CT Angiography, Cardiac CT and Triple-Phase Imaging. The facility is expected to expand the range of investigations available at the hospital and help reduce the need for patients to travel or be referred to other healthcare institutions for specialised diagnostic services.
The Minister said strengthening diagnostic infrastructure at government hospitals was essential to meeting the growing healthcare requirements of the population. She expressed hope that the new facility would improve patient care and contribute to more timely diagnosis and treatment.
Following the inauguration, Itoo chaired a review meeting with the GMC administration to assess the functioning of the institution. The meeting covered several aspects of hospital operations, including staff strength, outpatient department services, infrastructure, availability of medicines and diagnostic facilities.
The Minister directed the hospital administration to maintain punctuality, hygiene and patient-friendly services. She emphasised the importance of ensuring timely healthcare delivery and maintaining proper sanitation across the hospital premises.
Reviewing ongoing infrastructure and development works, Itoo directed the concerned executing agencies to accelerate the pace of construction. She called for deployment of additional manpower and an increase in work shifts wherever required to ensure that ongoing projects are completed within the stipulated timelines.
The Minister also interacted with doctors, paramedical staff and other healthcare workers during her visit. She listened to issues raised by the hospital staff and local residents and assured that their concerns would be examined and addressed in accordance with established norms.
Later, Itoo distributed a motorised tricycle to a specially-abled person under an initiative of the J&K Rehabilitation Council. She also felicitated the mother of a newborn baby girl under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
The visit underscored the government’s focus on improving healthcare infrastructure, expanding specialised diagnostic services and strengthening patient care facilities in Government Medical Colleges across Jammu and Kashmir.
The commissioning of the 128-slice CT scanner is expected to provide GMC Udhampur with enhanced diagnostic capabilities and support doctors in making quicker clinical assessments, particularly in cases requiring specialised imaging and urgent medical intervention.
