Heli-ambulance service for remote, tribal areas

Tribune News Service

Shimla, April 26

The Himachal Government will introduce free heli-ambulance services to be operated by the Heli-mission Switzerland with the assistance of Lady Willingdon Hospital, Manali, in Kullu district.

The decision was taken by the Cabinet at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here on Thursday. The decision has been taken keeping in mind the tough topographical conditions in the state. This will strengthen health transport services and timely airlifting of the patients, particularly those living in remote and tribal regions of the state.

The Cabinet also gave approval to set up healthcare transformation project Tata Digital Nerves Centre Platform (DiNC) in Kullu district. DiNC is a service-led platform model and facilitates to and fro communication between patients, hospitals and doctors irrespective of their geographical locations. It helps screening basic symptoms, facilitates doctor consultations and sends alerts for follow-up and manages records of patients.

The Cabinet also gave nod to fill 1,235 posts of Transport Multi-Purpose Assistant (TMPA) in the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC). It also accorded approval to fill 200 posts of clerk in the Secretariat Administration Department (SAD) on a contract basis through direct recruitment and 25 posts of junior scale stenographer in SAD. It was also decided to fill 100 posts of junior engineer (Civil) and 20 posts of junior engineer (Mechanical) in the Public Works Department and 25 posts of assistant engineer (Civil) on a contract basis.

It decided that Gram Panchayat Veterinary Assistants (GPVA), who have completed five years of service, will be brought under contract. The Cabinet gave its approval to purchase 26 ambulances under the National Ambulance Service-108 as replacement to facilitate the patients.

The Cabinet also upgraded the Civil Hospital, Nurpur, to 200 bed hospital along with creation of additional 42 posts of different categories. The Cabinet accorded its approval to open new state-of-the-art Industrial Training Institute at Chhatari in Thunag, Mandi.