Taking cognizance on the media report that shortage of medicines in the Government hospitals, the Health Minister of Uttarakhand, Surendra Singh Negi took a review meeting with the top health officials on Thursday. In the meetings the highly placed officers of health department including the Chief Medical Officers (CMO) informed the Minister that there is no dearth of medicines. The Minister told the officials that they should not pay heed to the rumors on the issue and provide all facilities to the general public. He ordered that more medicines should be procured if need arises. Negi said that in case of shortage of 103 reserved drugs, purchase should be made from companies specified. He took strong exception on the salary problem being faced by the employees of TB hospitals. Negi was informed that the problem precipitated due to gross negligence on part of department officials who failed to send the demand to the union Government for the central assistance. He asked the officials to immediately write a letter to union Government on the issue.
The Minister also reviewed the progress on 30 free pathology tests and directed that these free tests should be made available from March 01. On the issue of organising the block screening health camps the Minister said that doctors deputed in these camps can avail leaves on 8 days a month. He said that in case of any patient suffering from chronic disease attending these camps, immediate referral should be made to the nearest panel hospital under Mukhyamantri Swasthaya Bima Yojna (MSBY). The minister also reviewed MSBY and ordered to extend the scheme further that is ending on February. He also said that tenders for operation of trauma centres under PPP mode should be floated soon.
The meeting was attended by Principal Secretary Health, Om Prakash, Additional Secretary Neeraj Kherwal and B R Tamta, Director General Health Services Dr Kusum Narriyal, Health director Dr Prem lal and others.