Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday that the West Bengal government should implement the Central Medical Insurance Scheme AB-PMJAY at the grassroots level in public interest. During his visit to Bengal, Mandaviya said that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is committed to provide quality health care services to all the citizens of the state.
The minister reviewed various programs providing health services in the state including Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). He said: The state government should implement the AB-PMJAY health insurance scheme at the grass root level in the interest of the people. We are taking all necessary steps to ensure that the quality of health services in the state remains of the highest standard.
During his visit, he reviewed the status of funds released under Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, National Tuberculosis Eradication Programme, National Health Mission (NHM), Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM), Telemedicine Services, Medical Education and ‘Sickle’. ‘Cell Anemia Eradication’ program reviewed.
Referring to the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres, the Minister said: Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Center is a major initiative to provide comprehensive primary health care services to people near their homes. Mandaviya said that under the National Health Mission, 800 sub-centres have been approved in West Bengal at a cost of Rs 288.72 crore. Two Urban Community Health Centers at a cost of Rs 10 crore and 37 new Urban Primary Health Centers (PHCs) at a cost of Rs 27.75 crore have been approved.
He said that apart from this, 404 Ayushman Bharat Urban Health and Wellness Centers have been approved. The minister said that the central government is committed to eradicate tuberculosis from the country by 2025. Along with this, he said that we are taking all necessary steps to ensure the effective use of the funds released under the National Health Mission.
Mandaviya said that under the 15th Finance Commission, 223 block public health units and 719 sub-centres have been approved at a cost of Rs 290 crore in the state at a cost of Rs 180.12 crore. He said that 10,358 Ayushman Bharat health and wellness centers are operating in West Bengal.
Union Health Minister laid the foundation stone of NIPER’s new building
The foundation stone of the new building of National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research Center (NIPER) at Panihati in North 24 Parganas district was laid. Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers and Health and Family Welfare Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya, Kharagpur MLA Hiranmoy Chatterjee and officers of the Department of Chemicals and Fertilizers were present on the occasion.
On the occasion, the Union Minister said that a center of excellence would be set up at a cost of Rs 100 crore. A new NIPER building will be constructed at a cost of Rs 78 crore. Education will be imparted here by the Center of Excellence in the field of Emerging Technology of Pharmaceuticals by Kolkata NIPER. Industry will also be supported through education and linkage technology of academia in the field of research innovation of emerging technology.