The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly held a key session at the Assembly Complex in Srinagar to review audit findings related to the Health and Medical Education (H&ME) Department.
Chaired by Sham Lal Sharma, the meeting was attended by PAC members Mubarak Gul, Nazir Ahmad Khan (Gurezi), Qaysar Jamshaid Lone, Altaf Ahmed Wani (Kaloo), Javid Hassan Baig, Dr. Devinder Kumar Manyal, and Sajad Shaheen.
The Committee examined Audit Paras from 2000–01 and 2017–18, covering issues such as non-functional infrastructure at government labs, wasteful expenditure on dental equipment, the lack of spinal injury and swine flu testing centres, and underutilized trauma care facilities.
Chairman Sharma emphasized the need to upgrade healthcare infrastructure, particularly in remote areas like Gurez, Tanghdar, Bani, and Basoli. He called for adopting best practices from other states and enhancing transparency and accountability within the health sector.
The PAC recommended the formation of sub-committees to inspect Biosafety Labs and Spinal Injury Centres in both Jammu and Srinagar. Sharma also underlined the importance of improving work culture among healthcare staff and ensuring trauma care readiness.
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the H&ME Department, NHM, and the Principal Accountant General. Several audit paras were dropped, with directives issued to enhance healthcare delivery and infrastructure across J&K.
Sharma concluded by reiterating PAC’s role in ensuring fiscal discipline and transparent governance.