Chandigarh, Apr 06, 2010 (FE): The Haryana government has embarked upon an ambitious Rs-1,500 crore plan to improve the infrastructure of the health industry in the state. In a message on the eve of World Health Day, chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Tuesday said nine hospitals are being upgraded at Bhiwani, Rohtak, Faridabad, Gurgaon, Sonepat, Panipat, Karnal, Panchkula and Hisar to the Indian Public Health Standard. These hospital buildings are being renovated and will be fitted with the latest medical equipment like endoscopes, ECHO machines, laparoscopes and ventilators, in order to provide quality specialised health services.

Hooda said that free healthcare to the poor, including free-of-cost surgeries, free medicines to all OPD patients and emergency cases, a unique cost-effective and hassle-free surgery package, a rolling system to recruit doctors and the induction of specialists are some of the initiatives which have brought about a qualitative change and have led to a marked improvemrnt of haeathcare in the state.

He also added that new initiatives taken by the state government have made it possible for the general public to access affordable and quality health services in government health facilities. The government gives the highest priority to the upgrade of health infrastructure. CT scan machines are being installed at Rewari and Karnal. While new hospital buildings at Kaithal, Jhajjar, Palwal and Bahdurgarh are already functional, new medical colleges are being set up at Mewat, Sonepat and Karnal to give an impetus to medical education in the state.

Health minister Geeta Bhukkal said that seven new community health centres (CHCs), 33 primary health centres (PHCs) and 28 new sub centers have also been established last year to provide health facilities to people in rural areas. ‘Swasthya Vahan Sewa No. 102’, a system of referral transport has been initiated to transport patients from the site of an accident to the nearest medical facility and to reduce maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate by ensuring that pregnant women reach healthcare institutes on time. This facility is provided free of cost to all pregnant women and accident victims.

The Nehru Drishti Yojna has also been started to treat corneal blindness. The scheme aims at motivating people to donate eyes and eye collection centers have been set up in all district hospitals. ‘No.102’ has been linked for easy eye donation.