After announcing half-a-dozen schemes for enhancing medical and health services for Uttarakhand, Union Health Minister Dr Ghulam Nabi Azad assured that funds would not become barrier for improving medical and health services in the State.
He said that consequential health schemes would be framed, especially for the hilly snow-bound States which include Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh. To address the health issues of newly formed State, Uttarakhand, Union Health Minister Dr Ghulam Nabi Azad has announced to launch National Child Health Programme, National Iron Plus Scheme, National Ambulance Service and free dissemination of generic life saving drugs at Government hospitals in a function held in Dehradun on Wednesday.
After sensitising gathering on the schemes launched by UPA with the support of Congress-led State Government, Dr Azad also announced to set up cancer surgery centre with the estimated cost of Rs 45 crore at Government Doon Hospital and State Cancer Institute at Haldwani (Nainital) based medical college with the estimated cost of Rs 120 crore.
He also sanctioned trauma care centre and neurology centre which are going to be established at Srinagar based medical college in Uttarakhand and announced that that 90 per cent of the funding would be done by the Union Government whereas State Government would only bear the margin 10 per cent of the project cost.
“After considering the tough geographical conditions of Uttarakhand, the Union Government has relaxed various norms for setting up medical colleges and health centres in the state,” he reiterated, adding that UPA is committed to provide best medical and health care to the residents.
He also handed over medical kit to medical officers of Dehradun, Chamoli, Nainital and Pithoragarh. Dr Azad also stressed that the UPA has embarked upon the formulation of comprehensive, integrated, state-specific health and population policy and reflects the needs aspirations and view of the people of Uttarakhand.
He also announced health and population policy for Uttarakhand. Earlier, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna said that the state government is committed to improve the health status and quality of life of its people, by focusing on health issues with the objective of reducing disease burden, creating an enabling environment, influencing direct and indirect health determinants such as nutrition, water, sanitation and other factors like education and employment in the state whereas Union Minister for Water resources Harish Rawat stressed on enhancing medical and health facilities in the remote parts of the State.
Speaking on the occasion, Uttarakhand Health Minister, Surendra Singh Negi said that best possible medical care was provided to the residents in the disaster hit areas with the support of Union Government. State Planning Minister Dinesh Agarwal, State Education Minister Harak Singh Rawat, Rajpur Road MlA Rajkumar, Narendra Nagar MlA Subodh Uniyal, Joint Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar, Director General (Health) Dr GS Joshi and many more were present.