Four health schemes next month: Negi

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, July 1

The state government will launch four new health schemes in August. State Health Minister Surendra Singh Negi made this announcement during the inaugural function of a private fitness centre at Kankhal here today.

Negi said the schemes were to be launched in April but got delayed due to the imposition of President’s rule in the state. “Chief Minister Harish Rawat will launch the schemes,” he said.

The schemes include mobile vehicle, OPD, increase of grant under the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Yojana and stringent laws to benefit economically-weaker section. Under mobile vehicle scheme, rural population will have an access to free health service in their areas. Free OPD scheme aims at providing free of cost pathology services. Under the Mukhya Mantri Swasthya Yojana, the grant will be increased from Rs 35,000 to Rs 1.17 lakh per beneficiary. Besides, the government will enact strict laws to stop exploitation of poor patients in government hospitals.

The Health Minister said a licence had been made mandatory for clinic owners and 19 demands of private hospitals had been accepted. “They have been given two years to improve their working and facilities,” he said.

Negi flayed the BJP for demanding resignation of Chief Minister Harish Rawat over the sting CD episode in which he was shown apparently offering money to buy rebel legislators’ support. Negi said, “The BJP, first of all, should come out clean on the Maha Kumbh 2010 scam, in which Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank, who is now Haridwar parliamentarian, along with the then Kumbh Mela in charge and city legislator Madan Kaushik had misused the Central grant.”

“Those facing Kumbh scam accusations are levelling allegations against Harish Rawat, who has put the state on the track of development. The BJP has done nothing for the state’s development in five years. But in the past four years, the state under Rawat’s leadership has returned to the track of growth,” he added.