Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil said here today that the people of the state would soon get X-ray and ultrasound facilities closer to their homes as the process to equip the Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans with these modern machines has been completed. Dr. (Col.) Dhani Ram Shandil while chairing a Special High Power Purchase Committee of the Himachal Pradesh Medical Services Corporation Limited (HPMSCL) meeting here today said that these machines would be installed in the Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans within a short span of time.
This would put an end to the existing tiresome, time consuming and costly process under which people have to travel long distances to avail X-ray and ultrasound facilities. He said that the government is establishing 70 Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans with one each in every Assembly constituency and two each in the Lahaul Spiti and Bharmaur Assembly constituencies.
Health Minister said that the state government is strengthening and modernizing the health sector to ensure that every citizen gets advanced and quality healthcare at their doorstep. He said that as per the directions of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the healthcare machines and equipment, which are over 15 to 20 years old are being replaced with modern and state-of-the-art machines in a phased manner.
He said that the government is investing around Rs. 3,000 crore in modern healthcare facilities and the procurement of advanced medical equipment. He said that the government has spent Rs. 1,110 crore on healthcare infrastructure over the last two years.
The Health Minister said that the HPMSCL plays crucial role in ensuring quality procurement of medicines and machines in the health sector. He directed the officers to speed-up the tender and procurement process, while ensuring that the process was transparent and reliable.
A discussion regarding the strengthening of diagnostic services and pacing up the procurement of advanced medicines and drugs, baby care kit, ICTC testing vehicles, CT Scan services, medical consumables and surgical items, blood component separator units and screening of students' eyes in schools and providing free spectacles was also held in the meeting.
Health and Family Welfare Minister directed the officers to ensure timely and seamless purchase of world-class medical equipment, including advanced laparoscopic surgery sets, PET Scan machines, blood component separator units, full room digital radiography, high resolution color doppler ultrasound unit, digital mammography, ECH machines for Adarsh Swasthya Sansthans and furniture.
He also directed to speed up the process to establish an integrated total lab automation system in government medical colleges in Hamirpur and Tanda, and Chamiyan Hospital. He said that these initiatives would improve healthcare infrastructure and services in the state, benefiting the people of Himachal.
Secretary Health M. Sudha Devi, Mission Director NHM Pradeep Kumar Thakur, Managing Director of the HPMSCL Divyanshu Singal, Director Health Safety and Regulations Jitender Sanjta, Director Medical Education and Research Rakesh Sharma and other senior officials were present at the meeting.