TFP Bureau, Raipur; Dec 15, 2023: Chief Minister Mr. Vishnu Deo Sai spearheaded a crucial meeting of the Health Department and Medical Education Department at Mahanadi Bhawan on Friday. The Chief Minister took stock of ongoing health initiatives and delivered directives to enhance healthcare services in the state.
Mr. Sai issued instructions to officials, emphasizing the need to provide top-notch health facilities to the citizens. He specifically urged improvements in the ambulance service (108) to ensure swift response times. The Chief Minister set a target to launch the ‘Kusht ke Virudh Yudh’ campaign, aiming for a leprosy-free state.
With a focus on infrastructure, Mr. Sai directed officials to expedite the completion of the under-construction superspeciality hospitals in Jagdalpur and Bilaspur, setting a deadline for February.
Advocating for accessible healthcare, Chief Minister Sai stressed the importance of making generic medicines available in all hospitals. He further mandated doctors to prescribe only generic medicines for patients, promoting cost-effective healthcare solutions.
Ensuring immediate medical attention, Mr. Sai directed officials to guarantee ambulance reach within half an hour to patients in need. Addressing a critical concern, he instructed the health department to take immediate steps to provide treatment to mentally ill patients found on the streets.
The comprehensive meeting also saw a review of ongoing schemes under various national health programs. Mrs. Renu G. Pillay, Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education Department, provided insights into the status of state medical, nursing, and dental colleges, along with affiliated hospitals. Updates on initiatives such as the National Health Mission, ‘Janani Shishu Suraksha’ Programme, ‘Anaemia Mukt Bharat’ (Anaemia Free India), Routine Immunisation Programme, National Sickle Cell Anaemia Elimination Mission, National Urban Health Mission, Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Arogya Mandir, National Leprosy Eradication Programme, National Programme for Control of Blindness and Visual Impairment (NPCBVI), and the National Child Health Programme were discussed.
Deputy Chief Ministers Mr. Arun Sao and Mr. Vijay Sharma, along with Chief Secretary Mr. Amitabh Jain, were present at the meeting, underscoring the government’s collective commitment to advancing healthcare in the state. Additional Chief Secretary Mr. Subrat Sahoo, Secretary of Finance Department Mr. Ankit Anand, Commissioner of Health Services Department Dr. C.R. Prasanna, Medical Education Department Secretary Mr. P. Dayanand, National Health Mission Director Mr. Bhoskar Vilas Sandeepan, Director of AYUSH Department Ms. Namrata Gandhi, CGMSC Managing Director Mr. Chandrakant Verma, and other senior officials from the Health Department actively participated in the discussion.
