early times report
Kargil, Dec 24: The Hon’ble Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Shri Kavinder Gupta, today described the inauguration of the modern 3 Tesla MRI facility at District Hospital Kargil as a proud moment not only for the district but for the entire Union Territory of Ladakh. He said the facility ensures that people living in remote, hilly and border areas will no longer be deprived of world-class diagnostic services despite challenging geographical and climatic conditions. The Lt Governor dedicated the state-of-the-art MRI facility to the people of Kargil in the presence of CEC LAHDC Dr. Jaffer Akhoon; Member of Parliament Mohd Hanifa Jan; Executive Councillors from LAHDC Kargil; and special guests, including Chief Secretary Dr. Pawan Kotwal, Principal Secretary Shri Sanjeev Khirwar, Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Kumar, SSP Nitin Yadav, Director Health Services Dr. Tashi Thinles, Chairman Haj Committee Ali Majaz, senior officers, religious heads, district officials, medical staff, and students. He said the installation of advanced diagnostic technology reflects the government’s commitment to equitable and quality healthcare and marks a major step toward strengthening the public health system in Ladakh. Highlighting Ladakh’s difficult terrain, harsh weather and long winters, Shri Kavinder Gupta noted that these factors historically posed serious challenges to healthcare delivery. However, he expressed satisfaction over the significant progress made in recent years, stating that geographical remoteness is no longer a barrier to quality medical services. Referring to healthcare reforms under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, the Lt Governor recalled India’s resilient response during the COVID-19 pandemic through rapid infrastructure expansion, modern technology and the dedicated efforts of healthcare workers. He said the same national vision is now reaching remote regions like Ladakh. The Lt Governor emphasized that the 3 Tesla MRI facility will enable faster and more accurate diagnosis and play a crucial role in detecting complex and serious diseases. Until now, patients from Kargil had to travel to Srinagar, Jammu, Chandigarh or Delhi for advanced investigations, causing financial burden, time loss and mental stress. With this facility now available at the district level, patients and their families will receive major relief and renewed confidence in local healthcare services. He also highlighted the continuous strengthening of healthcare infrastructure across the UT, including District Hospitals, Community Health Centres, Primary Health Centres and Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, aimed at improving accessibility, preventive care and early diagnosis.
|