Aprons and Nameplates Made Mandatory In J-K – A Result of Long-Fought Battle of Mehraj Malik

Baber Nafice | July 26, 2025 | Featured Edition, Jammu Kashmir & Ladakh | Follow on Google News

Aprons and Nameplates Made Mandatory In J-K – A Result of Long-Fought Battle of Mehraj Malik

DODA/July 26/ In a significant move towards enhancing transparency and accountability in the healthcare sector, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir’s Health & Medical Education Department has issued a circular making it mandatory for doctors and paramedical staff to wear aprons and display nameplates during duty hours. This decision comes as a vindication of the efforts of MLA Doda Mehraj Malik, who had been advocating for this change for over eight months.

MLA Malik, in a statement, expressed his satisfaction that the Health Department has finally taken action .Malik also says that I,was fighting this battle alone, even faced an FIR for raising the truth. Today, their eyes have opened. Aprons & name plates now made mandatory; this is just the beginning.” He emphasized that accountability in healthcare cannot be selective and that this move is a crucial step in the right direction.

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The circular, issued by Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, IAS, Secretary to the Government, on July 25, 2025, underscores the importance of adhering to prescribed norms regarding the wearing of aprons and displaying of nameplates. It highlights that non-compliance was causing inconvenience to patients in identifying healthcare personnel.

The directive applies to all doctors, including those engaged under NHM and Ayush, as well as all paramedical staff working in government healthcare institutions across the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The instructions are clear: all healthcare staff must wear proper white aprons during working hours and display legible nameplates showing their full name and designation.

Heads of Institutions, Medical Superintendents, and Chief Medical Officers have been tasked with ensuring strict compliance with these instructions in their respective institutions. This move is expected to significantly improve the identification of healthcare personnel, thereby enhancing patient care and trust in the healthcare system.

MLA Malik’s perseverance in pushing for this change, despite facing resistance and legal challenges, has been commendable. His statement that “this is just the beginning” suggests that there are more reforms on the horizon aimed at improving healthcare accountability.

The healthcare community and patients alike are likely to welcome this move as a positive step towards a more transparent and accountable healthcare system. It remains to be seen how effectively this directive is implemented across the Union Territory.

As the healthcare sector in Jammu and Kashmir embarks on this new path, it is hoped that such measures will lead to improved patient outcomes and a more robust healthcare infrastructure. The government’s commitment to enhancing healthcare standards is a reassuring sign for the citizens of the region.

The mandatory wearing of aprons and nameplates by healthcare staff is a significant step towards improving accountability and transparency in healthcare institutions across Jammu and Kashmir. It reflects a broader effort to enhance patient care and trust in the healthcare system, and it is a development that is likely to have a positive impact on the overall quality of healthcare services in the region.

The implementation of this directive will be closely watched, and it is expected that it will set a precedent for further reforms in the healthcare sector. As MLA Malik noted, this is just the beginning of a journey towards a more accountable and transparent healthcare system.