PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
Uttarakhand has expanded healthcare access, deployed doctors to remote areas and achieved tuberculosis-free status in 2,182 Panchayats over the past 25 years, Health minister Dhan Singh Rawat said. He stated that the government has focused on ensuring local and affordable medical services for all citizens. According to him, the State now has 13 district hospitals, 21 sub-district hospitals, 80 community health centres, 577 primary health centres and about 2,000 sub-centres. Several hospitals are being upgraded and 100-bed mental hospitals are under construction in Dehradun and Nainital. Heli-ambulance service has started with AIIMS Rishikesh. Hospitals are equipped with CT scan, ultrasound, X-ray and MRI machines. Rawat said that the number of sanctioned doctor posts has risen from 1,621 at State formation to 2,885. The government has filled vacant posts, posted 220 doctors in remote areas, raised the retirement age to 65 years and dismissed 56 absent doctors. He said that to improve services, 1,399 nursing officers, 1,918 ANMs and other paramedical staff have been recruited so far. The 108 ambulance service, started in 2008, now operates 272 ambulances and has helped over 8.7 lakh people since 2019. Under public-private partnerships, dialysis and cardiac care units have treated thousands of patients. Over 3.3 lakh dialysis sessions have been conducted and cardiac facilities in Dehradun have served more than 61,000 people since 2022. Affordable generic medicines are available through 335 Janaushadhi Kendras. The State’s TB-free campaign has turned into a public movement, with 18,159 Nikshay Mitras supporting patients, Rawat said. He informed that during the Char Dham and Kailash Mansarovar yatras, doctors, staff and life-saving equipment are deployed along routes and advisories are issued in 13 languages. Rawat said that the government will continue expanding digital and super-specialty health services to ensure quality treatment for every citizen.
