Mufti calls back doctors who have gone abroad

Srinagar: Doctors from Jammu and Kashmir who have moved out of the country should consider returning to their roots, Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed said today while promising a conducive atmosphere for medical fraternity.

He also talked about the need for creating a corpus to cater to the needs of the poor patients and invited non-resident doctors of the state to contribute to this fund, saying he has discussed with the Centre the issue of facilitating such donations.

“I want some of our eminent doctors who have made a mark internationally to consider returning to their roots,” Sayeed said addressing the Annual Day function of Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar.

“I assure the medical fraternity that the government will provide conducive atmosphere for healthcare sector in the state,” he said.

During his address, he noted the need for creating a corpus fund for poor patients.

“Large number of poor people approach me for medical aid under CM’s Relief Fund and I am not able to provide the required assistance to all in view of limited resources. Poor people who are required to undergo kidney transplant, open heart surgeries and procedures for management and treatment of terminal illness like cancer have no access to expensive medical treatment,” he said.

Showering accolades upon those eminent doctors who stayed back and did not opt for greener pastures in the most trying and difficult circumstances, the Chief Minister urged them to take a lead in creating a corpus of fund for poor patients.

He also appealed to non-resident doctors of the state working in different parts of the world to contribute liberally to this corpus.

“I have also taken up the matter with the Union government at the highest level so that transfer of donations by J&K doctors for this noble cause is facilitated,” he said.

He stressed upon involvement of faculty and students in building institutions so that patients do not have to travel outside and are provided the best healthcare within the state.

PTI