Strengthening health institutes priority: CM

Our Correspondent

Sundernagar, June 10

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur said though new health institutions would be opened as per requirement and emphasis would be laid on strengthening the existing institutes by providing state-of-the-art facilities and deploying adequate doctors and staff.

He was presiding over the silver jubilee celebrations of Himachal Dental College and Hospital, Sundernagar, on Sunday. He said it was a matter of great contentment that the college had earned a special name and achieved many milestones over the years. He appreciated the efforts of the college for adopting schools for differently abled children, old age homes and various gram panchayats of the area as social responsibility. He expressed happiness that so far more than 700 doctors had passed out from the college.

He said it was a must to create awareness among the masses about dental health. He said the government would ensure availability of a dentist in every primary health centre in rural areas in a phased manner.

He said the government was according top priority to strengthen the health services in rural and far-flung areas for which besides enhancing infrastructural facilities, emphasis had been laid on filling up vacant posts of doctor.

He said the Mukhyamantri Nirog Yojana had been announced to check the basic health parameters at the initial stage. He said the government had also made a budgetary provision of Rs 10 crore under the Mukhyamantri Chikitsa Kosh to cover the poor and needy.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Vipin Singh Parmar said 16 OPDs would be established at the medical college at Ner Chowk.

The Chief Minister presided over a function organised by the Animal Husbandry Employees Union of Mandi district in Sundernagar. He said the government would soon take a decision to change the designation of veterinary pharmacists to veterinary inspectors on the analogy of the Punjab Government besides fulfilling their other demands.

Earlier, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of the first phase of parking for Sundernagar town to be constructed at a cost of Rs 6.36 crore. He also laid the stone of a poultry farming training centre at the sub-divisional veterinary hospital which will cost Rs 1.79 crore. Those who were present on the occasion included Urban Development Minister Sarveen Chaudhary, Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar, MP Ram Swaroop Sharma and MLA Rakesh Jamwal.