Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Sunday admitted that the pandemic has been an “eye-opener” for the State Government prompting it to revamp the health sector in the last 18 months which it could not do in decades.
The Government has “learnt the lesson the hard way” due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and is developing the sector through the creation of infrastructure.
“It was this pandemic that enabled us to ‘right' the ‘wrong' and revamp the health sector in the last one and half years that we couldn't do in decades,” the Chief Minister said.
Khandu said this while laying the foundation stone of a 200-bedded speciality unit of the Ramakrishna Hospital here.
“Being the chief minister even I was not aware of the status of our health facilities, especially at the ground level. Due to the pandemic, we repeated reviews, consultations, and meetings at all levels, which subsequently revealed the poor condition of our health infrastructure. I
“We are completely overhauling infrastructure and facilities of all the district hospitals. We have recruited and will continue recruiting sufficient doctors, including specialists, nurses of all categories, paramedics, and other sanitary and assisting staff as required,” he said.
Khandu also informed that the government has decided to select and develop one hospital each in every assembly constituency with all facilities.
Applauding the role of Ramakrishna Mission Hospital here in the fight against Covid-19, the Chief Minister said doctors, nurses, paramedics, and all staff of the facility had done everything possible for taking care of the sick and needy during the pandemic.