srinagar: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir sinha hands On Wednesday it launched India’s first Tele-MANAS chat-bot in the Union Territory, which will ensure 24-hour services from health counselors. clinical psychologists and consultants, the officials said. The service was launched after Sinha inaugurated the ‘JK Health Conclave’ on mental health and non-communicable diseases at SKICC here, they said.
On the occasion, the JK Health and Medical Education Department signed memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Homi Bhabha Hospital and Cancer Research Center and NIMHANS, the officials said.
The Center had announced in Budget 2022 India’s National Tele Mental Health Program, Tele Mental Health Assistance and Networks in States (Tele-MANAS). Tele-MANAS is a two-tier system. Level 1 comprises State TV MANÁS cells, which includes trained counselors and mental health specialists. Tier 2 comprises specialist resources at the District Mental Health Program (DMHP)/Medical College for physical consultations and/or eSanjeevani for audiovisual consultations, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare website.
In his speech at the caucus, the lieutenant governor praised the health department’s efforts to bring medical experts together on a common platform to deliberate on the most challenging health issues and raise awareness about mental health and life-threatening noncommunicable diseases. .
“Our ultimate goal is patient-centred care and every effort is being made to ensure that primary health centers and district hospitals provide quality care focused on the physical and emotional well-being of individual patients,” he said. Sinha.
He said the landmark new initiatives launched are testament to the JK administration’s commitment to providing quality, affordable and accessible healthcare services for all.
The MoU signed between JK Health and Medical Education Department and Homi Bhabha Hospital and Cancer Research Center will provide significant technical support to improve cancer care services at UT and help us establish a preventive oncology, day care centers and a palliative care service in district hospitals, the Lieutenant Governor said.
Another major MoU signed with NIMHANS Bengaluru will improve mental health services, training and capacity building for doctors and nursing staff, it added.
Sinha said that the per capita spending in the health sector in JK is among the highest in the country.
On the occasion, the Lieutenant Governor also inaugurated 44 healthcare facilities worth Rs 56.18 crore to strengthen the medical infrastructure in JK.
It has also implemented and launched several new initiatives to strengthen the resilience of the healthcare system, including T3: Test, Treat, Talk, Anemia Camps, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease program, and OPD registry scan and share service.
To improve community outreach of health services, the National Health Mission, Jammu and Kashmir, is recruiting an additional 380 ASHA and 31 ASHA facilitators as approved by the central government, Sinha said.
There are also 334 tribal ASHA numbers sanctioned for various JK districts aimed at serving the healthcare needs of the tribal population in a bid to improve the health indicators of the migrant population, it said.
