Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Saturday asked the Health Department to open small clinics in urban slums for treating minor illnesses in slum dwellers. Reviewing the progress in different health related projects in Jharkhand during a meeting with officials concerned in Ranchi, Das said that the clinics will refer patients to bigger hospitals in case they need more serious medical attention.
“The project should begin from the month of August this year. All these clinics should have an OPD (Outdoor Patient Ward) and address medical emergencies,” he said.
Besides, Das also asked the department to launch emergency bike ambulance services in at least 35 blocks that have hilly topography, which makes it difficult for conventional ambulances to move freely. “The project should begin by end of September. Every block will have at least five such bike ambulances and the expenses for the same will be arranged through CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility),” said Das.
During the meeting, Das also lauded the efforts of private hospitals in the state for actively participating in Ayushman Bharat Yojana, a Centre-run scheme for providing health facilities to the poor. Since the launch of the scheme at least 1,73,501 patients have availed benefits under the said scheme. Out of these patients, a total of 1,51,668, nearly 90 per cent, were treated at private hospitals, said a press communiqué from the State Public Relations Department on Saturday.
“I congratulate all the private hospitals for showing positive intent in supporting the Government’s initiative and serving the poor. Our Government will felicitate top three private hospitals on September 25 for their contribution in Ayushman Bharat Yojana,” Das said.
The State Government by now has spent Rs.170 crore from its exchequer for Ayushman Bharat Yojana. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the Ayushman Bharat scheme from Jharkhand last year. By now, at least 36.65 lakh beneficiaries have golden cards under the scheme. Jharkhand, Das said, is on the third position among all the states in India in terms of golden card holders. The State, he added, will provide golden cards free of cost of people in Jharkhand.
In a bid to encourage healthy practices, Das asked the officials to run Yoga camps at Panchayat buildings. The Centre has particularly focused on health facilities in Jharkhand lately. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 17 inaugurated three medical colleges worth Rs.885 crore, one each in Hazaribag, Palamu and Dumka, which will add a fillip to health facilities here.
