Srinagar, Sep 24 (KNO): As many as 2,241 dispensaries and other health institutions across Jammu and Kashmir are functioning from private or rented buildings, incurring a monthly rental expenditure of Rs 52.75 lakh, the government informed the Legislative Assembly on Thursday.
The information was provided in response to a question by Channapora MLA Mushtaq Guroo, who sought details of health institutions operating from rented premises, the expenditure involved and plans for developing permanent infrastructure.
According to the government's reply, the monthly rental expenditure for these institutions stands at Rs 52,75,309, amounting to nearly Rs 6.33 crore annually.
The government, according to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said the suitability of rented buildings is assessed by field-level health authorities, including Chief Medical Officers (CMOs), Block Medical Officers (BMOs) and Medical Officers. The assessment takes into account factors such as space availability, accessibility, basic healthcare infrastructure, patient privacy and other prescribed standards.
It said the exercise is aimed at ensuring healthcare services are delivered from safe, accessible and appropriate premises.
On the construction of permanent buildings, the government said efforts are underway to develop permanent infrastructure for health institutions operating from rented accommodation in a phased manner.
The move, it said, is intended to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and reduce recurring expenditure on rent.
However, the government noted that constructing permanent buildings for all such institutions would require financial investment running into thousands of crores of rupees, which cannot be accommodated within the available resources in the short term.
Given the scale of the investment involved, permanent infrastructure will be developed in phases, subject to the availability of funds and fulfilment of other required formalities, the government said.
It added that the process would be planned in a manner that ensures healthcare services are not disrupted during the transition to permanent facilities—(KNO)