Minister for Health and Medical Education, Social Welfare and Education, Sakeena Itoo today led a plantation drive at District Hospital Ganderbal to promote eco-friendly practices and reinforce quality healthcare standards under the Kayakalp and National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) programmes.

The Minister planted saplings within the hospital premises and emphasized on the importance of creating green, clean and patient-friendly environment in the healthcare institutions. “Environmental protection is not only a social responsibility but an essential component of quality healthcare delivery”, the Minister stated.

She highlighted that the plantation drives in healthcare facilities serve a dual purpose of enhancing the aesthetic appeal of hospitals and contributing to environmental conservation. “These kind initiatives help in improving air quality, reducing pollution and fostering a healing atmosphere for patients, attendants, and healthcare workers”, she said.

The Minister reiterated the commitment of the Omar Abdullah led Government to strengthen healthcare infrastructure across Jammu and Kashmir in adherence to national quality standards. She noted that under the Kayakalp and NQAS initiatives, special emphasis is being laid on cleanliness, sanitation, waste management, infection control and environmental sustainability across all healthcare institutions of J&K.

The Minister appreciated the efforts of the hospital administration and staff for actively participating in the plantation drive and maintaining high standards of hygiene and patient care. She urged healthcare workers to adopt eco-friendly measures like proper biomedical waste management, energy conservation and maintaining green hospital campuses for efficient and effective patient care.

On the occasion, Medical Superintendent, DH Ganderbal, Dr. Farah Shafi informed the Minister that the plantation drive will be followed by regular environmental awareness activities, cleanliness drives and implementation of green practices to further enhance the District Hospital’s compliance with Kayakalp and NQAS benchmarks.