MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwarul Haq on Saturday said that ensuring provision of healthcare facilities at the village level and in remote areas was the top priority of his government, with all possible resources being mobilised to achieve this goal.

He made this assertion during a meeting held to review the state of health services in the territory.

Held at Kashmir House in the federal capital, the meeting was attended by senior officials of the AJK Health Department, Minister for Health Nisar Ansar Abdali and some other cabinet members.

The AJK prime minister directed that all necessary steps be taken to fully equip and operationalise tehsil headquarters hospitals, basic health units and rural health centres.

He stressed that the deployment of doctors and necessary medical staff in these facilities must be prioritised to ensure that healthcare services were accessible at the doorstep of the people.

“Providing all basic facilities, including healthcare, to the people of the state is one of the core duties of the government, and there will be no compromise on this responsibility,” he affirmed.

The prime minister instructed district health officers to ensure the attendance of doctors and medical staff within their respective jurisdictions and to take disciplinary action against any absentee employees without leniency.

Mr Haq maintainedthat the establishment of merit was not only essential for strengthening institutions but also significantly enhanced their performance.

Published in Dawn, October 13th, 2024