Jammu, May 16 -- Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspecialty Hospital in Katra has successfully carried out over 100 successful knee, hip replacement surgeries in Rajouri-Poonch under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, said officials. The beneficiaries, along with doctors of the hospital and citizens, gathered at Rajouri on Tuesday to celebrate the achievement. The initiative was started by Dr Vikas Padha, the senior joint replacement surgeon at the hospital, who started his monthly outreach OPDs in the twin border districts. "For many of these patients, severe knee and hip problems had confined them to their homes for years. The challenge was not just treatment - it was access. Through these outreach initiatives, patients suffering silently in remote villages were identified, counselled and guided for treatment under the Ayushman Bharat scheme," he said. Dr Padha, thanking Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, said, "Shrine board has played a transformative role in ensuring that advanced tertiary care reaches under-served and tribal populations of J&K." He also acknowledged the role of Ayushman Bharat. Dr Yashpal Sharma, executive director, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Institute of Medical Excellence, said, "100 successful hip and knee replacement surgeries of poor people is a reflection of how outreach healthcare can transform lives. The vision of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has always been to ensure that quality healthcare reaches even the remotest areas."htc...