June 13, 2011
CM announces three-phase plan to improve health infrastructure in state
Kolkata, June 12: In a meeting with health officials at Town Hall, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee instructed the health officials of the state to work in a dedicated manner. She said that the government would work the development process in health issues in a three phased plan – a) Develop within the current infrastructure b) Short Term Development Plan and c) Long Term Development plan.
The Chief Minister also announced increase of 100 beds each in government hospitals at Asansol, Bishnupur,
`Priorities will have to be listed within available infrastructure so that health delivery standards can be improved,` Ms. Banerjee, who has been making surprise visits to state-run hospitals, said.
`What has been done has been done. There is no point in looking back and accusing others. We must make a new beginning,` she said.
The Chief Minister said that the main lacunae noticed was lack of coordination among the district, block and sub-divisional levels.
Ms. Banerjee said that decisions taken at the top did not reach the block level because of gap in coordination.
She said that this was acting as the main deterrent in implementation of decisions. Ms. Banerjee also pointed out that the condition of the primary health centres were very poor.
`Since there is no infrastructure available with sub-divisional and district hospitals, there is a huge rush in government hospitals,` she said.
Ms. Banerjee also stressed on improving cleanliness in hospitals and health centres.
On government plans, she said that new district hospitals with basic facilities would be set up and primary health centres with OPDs.
The Chief Minister also called performance appraisal of health officials. `What is required is performance appraisal and political considerations will have no place from now on.`
To tide over the lack of finance, she said that MPLAD and MLALAD funds could be used to marginally improve infrastructure.
