Mega health plan okayed by cabinet

NAGPUR, Dec 17: A master plan chalked out to expand and strengthen the health services set-up in the State has been cleared by the Cabinet....

NAGPUR, Dec 17: A master plan chalked out to expand and strengthen the health services set-up in the State has been cleared by the Cabinet. It is estimated to cost Rs 425 crore, announced Health Minister Dr Daulatrao Aher.

In reply to supplementaries during the question hour in the Legislative Assembly, Dr Aher declared that 105 new Rural Hospitals, 160 new Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and 2500 new sub centres would be opened all over the State. The master plan will improve the health services and help the State in reaching health care facilities to remote corners and to serve more people, he added.

Facing a barrage of questions from the Leader of the Opposition Madhukar Pichad, Rohidas Patil, Dr Khushal Bopcche, Arun Gujarathi and R R Patil (all Cong), Nihal Ahmed (JD), Dr Vimal Mundhada (BJP) and others, he admitted that the government faced difficulties in finding suitable land for construction of PHCs and Rural Hospitals. He suggested that legislators should help in identifying suitable land for PHCs and Rural Hospitals.

The original question about the demand to set up PHCs at Salebhata and Khamba in Bhandara district was raised by Dr Hemkrishna Kapgate (BJP) and three others.

Dr Aher also announced that a special plan was introduced in tribal belts of Thane, Nasik, Dhule, Amravati and Gadchiroli districts to bring down the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) among tribals. It is estimated to cost Rs 5.95 crore.

In a written reply to question by Prataprao Jadhav (Shiv Sena) and others, the minister said the emphasis was on pre-natal care and creating awareness among tribals, who do not readily respond to health schemes. A total of 9,200 volunteers have been appointed to cover all tribal villages while 132 honorary doctors have been appointed to extend medical facilities, he added.The State Government has also agreed in principal to involve reputed voluntary organisations in running Primary Health Centres (PHCs).

Informing this in a written reply to a question by Baburao Mane (Sena) and several others, Dr Aher said a committee was appointed to study the issue. In its report, the committee has laid down guidelines for handing over PHCs to voluntary bodies. Listing the guidelines, the minister said the committee has suggested that priority should be accorded to proposals for handing over PHCs located in tribal belts, proposals from only registered and reputed organisations should be considered, the voluntary organisations should also be asked to run sub-centres and Anganwadi centres attached to PHCs and a five-year contract should be signed with the organisations willing to run PHCs.

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In reply to another question about the status of Naturo-electro-homoeopathy colleges in the State, Dr Aher said that a mushroom growth of such colleges was witnessed in the State. Most managements cheated and exploited students seeking admission in these colleges. These colleges run a course which cannot be recognised as per the decision of the Indian Medical Council, he stated.

In reply to supplementaries to the question raised by Pandurang Dhole (JD) and others, the minister said an action to close down these colleges was initiated. But some of these colleges obtained a stay.