November 30, 2013
Bengal is a national model in healthcare: WB CM
Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee today said that the Centre has decided to accept her government`s fair price medicine shops in different hospitals as a model and has advised all states to adopt it. She said Maharashtra has already adopted it.
She added that her government is also trying to set up 50 such fair price diagnostic centres within three to four months. These diagnostic centres will conduct different examinations including CT Scan and MRI at 40 to 50 per cent discounted prices.
Blaming the Left Front government for putting the healthcare system into shambles, the CM today said the Left has no right to criticise.
Criticising the erstwhile Left Front government of leaving the state in a “disastrous“ financial situation, she said she wanted to clear the DA arrears of state government employees but was unable to do so due to lack of funds.
“We have vision but not the resources. Every day I sit with finance minister to discuss the financial position,“ she said, adding “I will not let the poor starve“.
Talking about the dismal condition of the public distribution system during the previous regime, she said since her government came to power, more than 77 lakh fake ration cards have been seized.
While intervening during the questions on health and BPL in the Assembly, Ms. Banerjee accused the previous government of failure in providing proper entitlements to people living below poverty line.
