SINCE SUCH medical equipment is not available in the state patients and their families undergo lot of problems and have to rush to different parts of the country to seek medical advice and treatment. This was stated at an executive body meeting of Shri Ram Sena (J&K) (SRS) under the chairmanship of Rajiv Mahajan in Jammu today. The members of SRS expressed grave concern over non-availability of facilities being provided to patients suffering from kidney problems in the hospitals of Jammu region.

They also pointed out that better diagnosis and treatment facilities for Kidney diseases is available in Kashmir region, especially in Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of medical sciences, where the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah resently announced Rs. one lakh from the government to any patient needing treatment for kidney diseases.

Elaborating on the issue, Mahajan said that the matter is very important and all those concerned with the matter must take up the issue with the government for establishing such a facility in the super specialty hospital already setup in Jammu city. The two Ministers R.S. Chib and Sham Lal Sharma, respectively heading Ministry for Medical Education and Health, need to take up this issue seriously as both of them are Jammuites. SRS urges both of them to take up this issue with Union Minister for Health Gulam Nabi Azad, who is also the son of the soil, to provide adequate infrastructural funds and technical help in establishment upgraded kidney transplant unit in Jammu. This will go along way in mitigating the sufferings of the people of Jammu, especially those living in far-flung areas, Mahajan added.