Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo on Thursday chaired a comprehensive review meeting to assess the performance and functioning of the Jammu & Kashmir Medical Supplies Corporation Limited.

During the review, the Minister undertook a detailed assessment of procurement mechanisms, inventory management, medicine distribution networks, quality assurance protocols, supply chain operations, vendor performance and ongoing procurement projects relating to medicines, medical equipment and healthcare infrastructure.

She directed the officers to install procured equipments at designated health facilities well on time, besides process should be expedited for procuring other necessary medical equipments. 

The Minister emphasised that transparency, accountability and efficiency must remain the guiding principles of JKMSCL’s operations. She directed the corporation to further strengthen monitoring mechanisms and adopt best practices in procurement and distribution to eliminate delays, reduce wastage and ensure optimal utilization of resources.

Highlighting the importance of quality assurance, Sakeena Itoo stressed that no compromise should be made on the quality of medicines and medical equipment supplied to healthcare institutions. 

 The Minister also called for regular quality audits, enhanced laboratory testing and rigorous vendor evaluation processes. Expressing concern over delays in the supply of essential drugs and equipment, the Minister directed the corporation to maintain strict timelines for procurement and delivery. She instructed the concerned officials to closely monitor supplier performance and initiate appropriate action against firms failing to meet contractual obligations.

The Minister laid special emphasis on ensuring uninterrupted availability of life-saving medicines and critical healthcare equipment, particularly in remote, rural and underserved regions.

Reviewing the status of digital inventory and supply management systems, Sakeena Itoo called for greater utilization of technology-driven monitoring tools to improve real-time tracking of medicines and equipment.

She stressed the importance of accurate record-keeping and data-driven decision-making for improving efficiency and responsiveness across the healthcare supply chain. She also directed the hospital administrators to submit monthly reports on number of essential medical tests like CT Scans, MRI, and other tests carried in Government hospitals.

Reaffirming the government’s resolve to strengthen the healthcare sector, Sakeena Itoo stated that accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare services remain among the top priorities of the administration. Among others, the meeting was attended by MD NHM, Akriti Sagar; Director SKIMS, Dr. Ashraf Ganie; MD JKMSCL, Tariq Hussain Ganie; Principals of all GMCs, Medical Superintendent of various hospitals, and other concerned officers of Health and Medical Education department.

Public welfare remains foremost priority of the Govt: Health Minister

Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo presided over a Mega Public Outreach Programme at Banquet Hall here during which scores of public delegations, individuals and representatives of civil society organizations projected their grievances and developmental demands.

MLA Eidgah, Mubarik Gul; MLA Hazratbal, Salman Ali Sagar; MLA Lal Chowk, Sheikh Ahsan Pardesi; MLA Chanapora, Mushtaq Ahmad Guroo; Director School Education Kashmir, ADDC Srinagar, Director Colleges, other senior officers of district administration and large number of locals and public delegations were also present on the occasion.

Interacting extensively with the participants, Minister Sakeena Itoo patiently listened to their concerns and assured them that the Government remains fully committed to addressing genuine public issues in a prompt and effective manner. The Minister directed the officers present to maintain a proactive approach in resolving public grievances and stressed the importance of ensuring timely disposal of complaints. She said that every grievance must be treated with seriousness and sensitivity, adding that responsive governance is essential for building public confidence in Government institutions. During the programme, several delegations sought augmentation of healthcare services, upgradation of educational institutions, upgradation of roads, filling of vacant posts in health and education departments, improvement of civic amenities and inclusion of deserving beneficiaries under various welfare schemes. The Minister issued on-the-spot directions in a number of cases and instructed the concerned departments to submit action taken reports on issues requiring further examination.