iGovernment
19 July 2010
Guwahati, India

The 50–bedded model hospitals to be set up under the project would be equipped with latest medical treatment facilities
Assam government is set to launch one of its biggest health initiatives and set up model hospitals in every 126 assembly constituencies to improve overall healthcare system across the state.

For this the government has proposed an outlay of Rs 300 crore for the ambitious project expected to be completed by 2013.

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma informed the State Assembly that the 50–bedded model hospitals to be set up in each assembly constituencies would be equipped with latest medical treatment facilities. The model hospitals would involve 2,000 doctors and 2,000 paramedics.

“This is the biggest ever health project announced in any state of the country on a single day. We would start works in the project in the next few months and expect to complete by 2013. The model hospitals would not only provide latest healthcare facilities to people across the state but would revolutionise the healthcare sector in our state,” he said.

The initiative would require huge number of doctors and medical staffs. The Minister informed that in order to cater to demand for doctors and faculty five new medical colleges would be set up.

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has granted permission for the state”s fourth medical college at Jorhat with an intake of 100 students. The government has decided to set up two medical colleges at Tezpur and Barpeta and is planning another two in Nagaon and at Diphu in the hilly Karbi Anglong district.

“At present we have shortage of 7000 doctors now if we calculate by the standard norms of doctor population ratio. Keeping this in mind we are going to set up five new medical colleges,” the Health Minister said.

Assam at present has three medical colleges at Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar. Sarma said the Health Department is trying to cover people living in the riverine areas across the state under the health project.