CM meets Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda

Bhopal. Chief Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan met Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare Shri J.P. Nadda at his residence in New Delhi today and apprised him of state government’s Medical Education and Health Department’s projects pending with the Centre. Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Smt. Gauri Singh and Secretary to CM Shri Hari Ranjan Rao were also present on the occasion.

Shri Chouhan said that proposals for 7 new medical colleges (Vidisha, Ratlam, Shahdol, Datia, Khandwa, Shivpuri and Chhindwara) are pending with the Centre. Selection and transfer of land for opening medical colleges has been done by the state government. Construction work has been started after meeting all norms of MCI. Shri Chouhan informed that about Rs. 1000 crore is expected from the Centre for these works.

Shri Chouhan also urged Union Minister Shri Nadda to fill post of Director of Bhopal AIIMS to ensure smooth functioning of the hospital for the benefit of patients. Shri Chouhan also informed that Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) is not functioning smoothly. He said that if the Centre is handed over to the state government and grant to it is continued for some time then people of Bhopal will get benefit of this ultramodern hospital.

Shri Chouhan informed that as per recommendations of 13th Finance Commission, Rs. 2200 crore was sanctioned to the state of which Rs. 1650 crore has been received by the state government. He appealed for early release of remaining amount of Rs. 550 crore so that pending works can be completed at the earliest.

Shri Chouhan informed that there is acute shortage of doctors in the state and the state government has initiated a number of measures to attract doctors to government job. He said that if quota for PG or diploma is made available for in-service doctors then a number of young doctors will be attracted towards government job. He said that shortage of doctors can be overcome to some extent if recognition of Diploma of National Board is given to 4 district hospitals – Bhopal, Jabalpur, Ujjain and Gwalior.

Shri Chouhan informed that problem of malaria is very grave in tribal areas of the state and the state government is undertaking war-footing efforts to eradicate it. Long lasting insecticide nets (LLIN) are very effective to prevent malaria infection. He appealed to Centre to provide minimum 20 lakh LLINs so that the state government can provide 2 anti-mosquito nets to each family.

Union Minister Shri Nadda gave a patient hearing to Shri Chouhan and assured every possible assistance from the Union Government.