Committed to ensure affordable healthcare for all, says Assam CM
The Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday ceremonially inaugurated the Kaliabor Sub-Division Civil Hospital, located at the sub- divisional headquarter of the historic sub-division in Nagaon district. Built at a cost of ?16.25 crore, this three-storeyed state-of-the-art hospital has a total floor area of 3,236 square meter.
Speaking at the ceremonial event, the Chief Minister said the inauguration of this civil hospital at Kaliabor would be a step forward in ensuring every resident of the state, irrespective of his or her socio-economic status, has access to affordable and modern healthcare. The Kaliabor Sub-Division Civil Hospital would be able to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of the people of the sub-division to a great extant, the Chief Minister added. The Chief Minister further added that the government has been contemplating upgrading the sub-divisional civil hospital to a 200-bedded "district hospital".
The Chief Minister also expressed gratitude towards Boeing India for donating the high-tech equipments such as CT-scan machines in the hospital. Referring to his "sankalpa" (resolution) of transforming Assam into one of the top- performing states on various healthcare-related parameters, he said the current dispensation is working tirelessly to achieve that end. It is the manifestation of that very "sankalp" which has led to the revolutionary changes in the state's healthcare sector as compared to the scenario of yesteryears. From just three medical colleges recently, the state can boast of nine institutions dedicated to study of medical sciences, he said, while adding the plan is to take the number of medical colleges to 16 by 2026. He further added from just a single cancer hospital earlier, the state is now having nine hospitals dedicated to cancer care.
In few years, the total number of cancer hospitals in Assam would go up to 18, he added. He also added that with the nine medical colleges set to produce 1100 doctors annually, the issue of manpower crunch in the public sector healthcare sector shall be a thing of the past.
Referring to the better-than-national-average Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) of Assam, Dr. Sarma said the aim of the government now is to provide quality healthcare to all. There is a lot of focus on imparting specialised training to healthcare workers and modernization of health infrastructure, he added. Speaking on the subject of health insurance as a necessary measure for timely access to the best-available health services, the Chief Minister termed the Atal Amrit and Ayushman Bharat schemes two of the best welfare policies of the government.
He urged everyone to co-operate with the government in the ongoing Adhaar-seeding of Atal Amrit and Ayushman Bharat beneficiaries so that the maximum number of people in the state can avail of these two schemes and benefits. Health Minister and Kaliabor Member of Legislative Assembly Keshab Mahanta and Nagaon district Guardian Minister Parimal Shuklabadya in their addresses termed the Chief Minister a visionary leader. They thanked him for paying personal interest in ensuring all the ongoing developmental activities in Kaliabor sub-division and Nagaon district are completed within the stipulated time frame. Apart from Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta and Guardian Minister Parimal Shuklabadya, today's inaugural event also witnessed the presence of NHM Mission Director MS Laxmi Priya, Boeing India Chief of Staff Praveena Yangambhat and Nagaon district's Deputy Commissioner and the Superintendent of Police, among others. Visit to Maa Kamakhya Devalaya Earlier in the day, the Chief Minister visited the Sri Sri Maa Kamakhya Devalaya at Kaliabor to offer his prayers at the shakti peeth on a hilltop near the bank of river Brahmaputra in Kaliabor Sub-Division.
