The Health Minister of Uttrakhand, Surendra Singh Negi directed the health officials of State to ensure that the Gandhi Centenary Eye hospital gets started in month of October and appoint three retired eye surgeons there so that the treatment at the hospital starts.

The Minister passed these orders while undertaking a review meeting of the officers of health department at Vidhan Sabha auditorium on Thursday. He directed the Additional Secretary Neeraj Khairwal to undertake an inspection of the building of the hospital. He held a telephonic conversation with the finance secretary for clearance of Rs 9 Crore needed for sewer and drinking water connection in the hospital. The Minister directed that the purchase of equipment needed for treatment fractures should be purchased within next ten days under Mukhyamantri Swasthaya Bima Yojna (MSBY). He said that work of agencies concerned with preparation of MSBY cards should be monitored so that the task of card distribution to the remaining eligible families is done at the earliest.

Negi asked the Director General (DG) Health to continuously monitor dengue situation and remain alert for Swine flu. He said that the department should have adequate stock of the medicines needed for combating swine flu. Negi said that strict vigil on availability of ElISA kits and platelets should be made.  He said that the department should release funds for IEC activities so that the awareness about different government schemes percolates to all. He said that there should be no dearth of medicine for the second phase of specialized health camps slated from October 02 in different parts of the state.  The minister told the officials that process of generating tenders for setting up cardiac unit at Kashipur and dialysis centre at Kotdwar should be completed before October 15.  He said that the process of appointment of ANMs should be initiated fromOctober 05 and proposal of recruitment of drug inspectors should be brought before the cabinet. The minister directed for appointment of consultant for Kotdwar medical college.  He also directed that the pending payment to the 108 emergency ambulance service should be done on a priority basis.

The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary health Om Prakash, Additional Secretary Neeraj Khairwal, DG Kusum Narriyal and joint secretary Atar Singh.