The State Government is all set to roll out measures to provide much needed booster to the health system in Jharkhand. With budgetary provision of over Rs2,000 crore for which the ‘Demand for Grants’ got cleared by the House on Tuesday, steps like more appointments of doctors, upgrading existing medical colleges and hospitals and setting up laboratories for testing samples for swine flu and other infectious diseases would be taken during the upcoming financial year 2015-16.
Giving a glimpse of the proposals, Health and Family Welfare Minister Ramchandra Chadravansi informed the members that steps were at final stages for setting up a cancer hospital at Brambe near Ranchi.
“We have got the DPR for cancer hospital at Brambe and foundations stone would be laid soon. Also, the process of selecting agency for running 500-bed Sadar Hospital on PPP mode is in the final stage. Within four months, the State would get a laboratory of its own for testing samples for swine flu and other similar diseases. We are also planning to upgrade RIMS in the lines of AIIMS,” said Chandravansi.
The Minister went on stating that in two-month time foundation stone would be laid for three medical colleges proposed at Palamu, Hazaribagh and Dumka and land has been identified for building the institutions.
“We have obtained the NOC from the Forest Department and ways are cleared for building three medical colleges in the State. At the same time, the State Government is also going to appoint over 300 doctors and over 600 specialists for health centres and hospitals across Jharkhand. In the coming financial year the ‘104’ emergency health helpline would be made completely toll free,” said the Minister while replying to the ‘Cut Motion’ brought by the Opposition.
Chandravansi also replied to the allegations of corruption levelled by JVM’s Pradeep Yadav in the tender process for supplying anti-rabies vaccines taken place in 2010. “The work was allotted to a company without tender and the company also got several extensions thereafter to supply the anti-rabies injections on higher rates. There is a big scam into all this and I demand a CBI probe,” alleged Yadav.
However, the Minister brushed aside the charges saying the work was allocated after tender and extensions had been given after proper consideration by then Director Health Services Dr Praveen Chandra and other officials. “Anyway we have asked an explanation from Dr Chandra on the matter and actions would be taken based on the findings. Also, investigation would be done in supplying kits to Sahiyas,” answered Chandravansi.