A CORRESPONDENT
SILCHAR: The state’s health department has launched a helpline for the patients so that they could easily avail medicine in the government health centres or hospital, stated Health Minister Ashok Singhal. Addressing a press meet here today, Singhal said that 99 percent of the medicines that the doctors usually prescribe were available in the government hospitals and the patients need not procure these from the market. “If any patient, admitted in a government hospital, does not get the prescribed medicine, he can dial 986451430 to avail the drugs,” Singhal maintained. The minister reviewed the ongoing 500-bed hospital in the Silchar Medical College Hospital.
Singhal conducted a thorough review of the healthcare services in the Cachar district. Addressing a press conference, the minister highlighted the government’s unwavering resolve to enhance the healthcare system, address critical challenges, and provide quality medical services to every citizen.
Minister Singhal assured that hospitals across Assam maintain a 99% availability of essential medicines, ensuring uninterrupted treatment for patients. To enhance transparency and efficiency, he launched a dedicated WhatsApp helpline (9864541430), allowing the public to report medicine shortages and enabling swift government intervention. Stressing affordability in medical care, he urged the government doctors to prescribe hospital pharmacy medicines and promote the use of generic alternatives to reduce patient expenses.
Earlier, in a high-level review meeting at the new conference hall of Cachar District Commissioner’s office, the minister assessed the progress of ongoing healthcare projects and directed officials to focus on infrastructure upgrades and enhanced medical accessibility, particularly for underprivileged communities. Key discussions included the Wage Compensation Scheme for pregnant women labourers of Tea Garden area, MMR and IMR review and strategies to combat Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs). He reiterated the government’s commitment to providing the necessary resources to strengthen healthcare facilities in the district.
During his two-day visit to Barak Valley, Minister Singhal personally engaged with patients at Ayushman Arogya Mandir and Silcoorie Tea Garden Hospital, gaining firsthand insights into their healthcare experiences. In a distinctive gesture underscoring the government’s patient-centric approach, he underwent a routine health check-up alongside regular patients. He later inspected the Silchar Medical College & Hospital (SMCH), reviewing the newly constructed 500-bed facility, maternity ward, emergency services, and casualty department. A subsequent meeting with Principal Dr Bhaskar Gupta and senior doctors focused on strategies to enhance the medical services at SMCH.
Minister Ashok Singhal, who arrived in Silchar on a 2-day visit to the Barak Valley on Thursday morning to assess the healthcare infrastructure and services in the region, visited MG Model Hospital Katigorah.
Ashok Singhal on Thursday visited the civil hospitals in Sribhumi and Hailakandi. In Sribhumi Civil Hospital, a number of patients alleged that the medicines that the attending doctors prescribe here were mostly unavailable and they had to purchase them from the market. An apparently irritated Singhal asked for an explanation from the hospital authority.
In Hailakandi too, the minister lost his temper when he was apprised that the immunization programme in the district had covered much less than the target.
Later in the Silchar BJP office, Singhal was felicitated. The minister said that the election for the newly-formed Silchar Municipality Corporation would be held after the Durga Puja.
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