PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has said that the health workers play a very crucial role in a geographically challenging State like Uttarakhand. He said that in the remote and mountainous areas, health care workers are the public’s first hope in times of crisis.
The CM was addressing a programme at his residence on Thursday in which appointment letters were given to 307 newly appointed employees of the State government. The appointment letters were given to 243 medical officers, 42 pharmacists, 22 laboratory assistants and mushroom supervisors of the Horticulture department in the programme. Congratulating the new employees, the CM said that the appointment letter is not just a document of employment, but is a pledge to serve the 1.25 crore people of the State.
The CM said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the State government is continuously working to strengthen health services. He said that lakhs of people have benefitted from the treatment under the Ayushman Yojana. The CM said that 62 lakh Ayushman cards have been distributed in the State and about 12 lakh patients have received cashless treatment worth over Rs 2,200 crore.
The CM said that new medical colleges are being constructed to expand healthcare facilities in the State. He said that currently the State has five government medical colleges and construction work of two colleges is underway. Super-specialty facilities are being expanded at Dehradun, Haldwani and Srinagar Medical Colleges and construction of a modern cancer institute is underway in Haldwani. Telemedicine and heli-ambulance services are also being implemented to provide better healthcare in remote areas.
The CM said that efforts are being made to increase farmers income by promoting high-value crops such as kiwi, dragon fruit, high-density apples, mushroom production and beekeeping.
Agriculture and Horticulture minister Ganesh Joshi said that mushroom production can emerge as an additional source of income for farmers, which will strengthen their economic condition and bring qualitative improvement in their social and economic status.
Health minister Subodh Uniyal said that the appointment of new doctors and pharmacists will help improve health services in the State.
Cabinet minister Khajan Das, MLA Umesh Sharma Kau, Savita Kapoor, Dehradun Mayor Saurabh Thapliyal, secretary Sachin Kurve, SN Pandey and others attended the programme.
