In a significant achievement in healthcare sector, the frontier district Poonch has been honoured with the prestigious SKOCH Award in New Delhi for its outstanding implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB PMJAY) SEHAT scheme.
Poonch district emerged as the only district from the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and among a select few districts nationwide to receive the national recognition for excellence in executing the flagship health insurance programme.
The award acknowledges the district’s efforts in expanding healthcare access, ensuring quality cashless treatment for beneficiaries, strengthening service delivery, and achieving extensive outreach, particularly in remote and border areas.
The recognition also highlights the Health Department’s commendable response during Operation Sindoor, when Poonch faced intense cross-border shelling. Health teams, including doctors, paramedics, ambulance personnel and frontline workers, ensured uninterrupted medical services, emergency care and evacuation of the injured under challenging circumstances.
Chief Medical Officer, Poonch, Dr. Parvaiz Ahmed Khan dedicated the award to doctors, specialists, paramedics, ASHA workers, health officials and support staff whose collective efforts contributed to the district’s success in public healthcare delivery.
