Health Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi has assured health industry bodies and companies of full support in establishing and expanding their healthcare services in the State. Speaking on the occasion of ASSOCHAM Health and Wellness Summit – Awards 2017 in BNR Chanakya Hotel on Saturday, the Minister admitted that there was a lot to be done in the State in order to provide quality healthcare to the poorest of the poor, which according to him was not possible by government alone.
“We have come a long way from the day not far ago when Jharkhand was placed 18 among states as far as healthcare services was concerned to 3rd now in country. Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has been only last month awarded as the most promising medical colleges in eastern India. But we in government believe that we have to do a lot to provide quality healthcare to all and I want to urge the industry to come forward and do things on Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode in which Government is ready to offer whatever it can,” said Chandravanshi on Saturday.
He added that the government was ready to grant a sum of Rs3 Crores for medical colleges on PPP mode, while immediate permission to Nursing and Technician Colleges to combat huge gap between demand and supply of trained para-medical staff in the State. He also praised Chief Minister Raghubar Das for taking additional interest in healthcare related issues and being open to new ideas.
Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare Department Additional Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathi mentioned about a short and long term goals the Government was working on to improve healthcare services in the State. “We are going to launch 108-ambulances in 300 plus numbers within three months. We are also going to start Sadar Hospital without wasting any time, as this hospital has turned as a symbol of inefficiencies of the system. The Government has also planned to provide health check-ups worth Rs250 free for all, which might claim around Rs500 Crores to the government on yearly basis,” said Tripathi.
He pointed out that in an era when availability of quality healthcare was going to be one of the key parameters in rating and ranking States, a collaborative approach of industry and government was the need of the hour. He also assured industry representatives of being sure of speedy approvals. ASSOCHAM Regional Director SK Singh, Jharkhand Start Up Council of ASSOCHAM Rajeev Gupta, Health Services Director Praveen Chandra, Medica Group of Hospitals Vice President Sanjay Kumar and others were also present during inaugural session of the event, followed by two technical sessions by health and wellness experts.
The event also awarded hospitals and entrepreneurs of healthcare sector, including felicitating 12-year old Jamshedpur girl Mondrita Chatterjee for constructing two toilets in a village of over 250 families with no toilets at all. The girl, inspired by Swachchha Bharat Campaign used her piggy bank money collected in over two years of time to get the toilet constructed.