Bhilwara and Bharatpur Medical College Buildings Dedicated to Public : Rajasthan Presented Exemplary Example for Other States in Medical Sector – CM

Rajasthan Got Maximum 15 Medical Colleges Due to Early Preparedness - Union Health Minister 

Jaipur, August 26. Chief Minister Shri Ashok Gehlot said that Rajasthan has set exemplary examples for other states of the country in the field of medical services. After taking important decisions such as Free Medicine Scheme, Free Diagnostics Scheme and Nirogi Rajasthan (Healthy Rajasthan) campaign, our government is also strengthening the health infrastructures up to villages and hamlets to successfully fight the corona pandemic, he said. “It is our effort that construction of the newly approved medical colleges has been completed within the prescribed time limit,” he added. 

Shri Gehlot was addressing through VC after dedicating the buildings of Bhilwara and Bharatpur Medical Colleges built with an estimated cost of Rs 828 crore and Super Speciality blocks in Bikaner, Udaipur and Kota Medical Colleges to the public. People would get better health services with expansion in these facilities, he said. 

Approve Medical College at Jalore, Pratapgarh and Rajsamand 

The Chief Minister said that due to the tough geographical conditions, it costs more in carrying health services up to remote areas in Rajasthan. Keeping this in view Govt. of India should provide additional resources, he said. “We have taken a resolution to establish Government Medical College in all the 33 districts of the State,” he added. Shri Gehlot requested to the Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan to give approval to opening of Medical colleges at Jalore and Pratapgarh district. Keeping in view harsh conditions relaxation should be given in rules for private medical college in Rajsamand. 

Action Plan for Silicosis to Be Made at the National Level 

Shri Gehlot said that Rajasthan is leading in the country in fighting COVID-19 pandemic. The situation of Rajasthan regarding fatality rate, recovery rate, doubling rate and in other standards is much better compared to other States and in the national average. Mobile OPD vans are being operated in the State to provide health services to Non-COVID patients. He said that new policy has been brought in the State to provide relief to people suffering from serious disease such as silicosis. He requested the Union Health Minister to make an action plan at the national level for eradication of this fatal disease. 

Centre Should Check The Reliability of Antigen Test 

The Chief Minister said that RT-PCR test is authentic for testing corona infection. Rajasthan is a State where all corona tests are being done through this method. He said the health experts of Rajasthan earlier had raised questions on the results of Rapid Test Kits, after which this test was stopped in the entire country. He said, “Recently research was conducted on Rapid Antigen Test in Rajasthan, which is being used in many States in the country but results were not as expected. We had apprised the ICMR in this regard.” Shri Gehlot requested that the Health Ministry should take a fair decision after getting checked for the reliability of results of this test. 

Rajasthan Got 15 Medical Colleges Out of 75 

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan said that the Central Government in the third phase had fixed the target of opening 75 new Medical Colleges in backward districts of the country on ‘First Come First Serve’ basis. The Rajasthan Government showing preparedness had sent the proposal early, because of which Rajasthan got the maximum of 15 Medical Colleges. Praising the efforts made by the Rajasthan Government in fighting corona, he said that Rajasthan is fighting this battle with full alertness along with efforts of the Centre. He said the Union Health Ministry has set a target of making India free from tuberculosis by 2025 and help from States is expected in this direction. Dr Harsh Vardhan also mentioned Ayushman Bharat, Eat Right, Fit India, Health for All, Telemedicine and other innovations and schemes to strengthen the health infrastructure of the country. 

Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Shri Ashwini Choubey said that in the last few years approval was given to open 157 new Medical Colleges in the country to fulfil the shortage of human resources in the medical sector. 

Rajasthan’s Health Minister Dr Raghu Sharma said that better management was done regarding corona in the State. The mortality rate in the month of July and August was less than 1%, along with the recovery rate is better than the national average. 

Minister of State for Health Dr Subhash Garg said that the central sponsored schemes in the field of health and education sector should be operated on the basis of 75:25 as before looking at the geographical situation of Rajasthan. Medical Education Secretary Shri Vaibhav Galriya informed in detail about the expansion in medical facilities in the State in the beginning of the video conference. 

Energy Minister Shri BD Kalla, Minister of State for Home Shri Bajan Lal Jatav, Chief Secretary Shri Rajeeva Swarup, Additional Chief Secretary Finance Shri Niranjan Arya, Principal Secretary Health Shri Akhil Arora, Commissioner Medical Education Smt Shivangi Swarnakar and other officers were present on this occasion. Union Minister Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, Leader of Opposition Shri Gulab Chand Kataria and concerned Members of Parliament, MLAs and Union Health Secretary Shri Rajesh Bhushan and other officers and public representatives joined this programme through video conference.