Health sector transformed significantly
Source: The Sangai Express / DIPR
Imphal, December 24 2016:
Manipur has witnessed a drastic change in health sector in the last 15 years.
The State Government has been wise enough to know that health sector should be given utmost priority and over Rs 800 crore was invested during this period.
The State Government has invested around 4% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) annually in public health expenditure as compared to the National average of 1.8% only.
Health sector was improved considerably in both hills and valley areas alike and hospitals in remote hill areas got major makeover.
New hospital buildings with all necessary infrastructures and staff were inaugurated at Ukhrul, Senapati, Churachandpur, Bishnupur, Thoubal and construction of hospital buildings in Chandel and Tamenglong is nearing completion.
In total, 13 Community Health Centres (CHCs), 63 Primary Health Centres (PHCs), 336 Primary Health Sub-Centre (PHSCs) and 343 staff quarters have been constructed so far.
Moreover, National Health Mission is being successfully implemented in the State with about 2000 trained staff members discharging efficient services.
In a laudable effort, the State Government has established Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS), the first State-run medical institute, with an intake of 100 MBBS seats.
BSc Nursing College was also established.
Public-private partnership in health sector was made effective and hence resulted in significant development of Shija Hospital, Sky Hospital, Jeevan Hospital and Christian Hospital.
With these partnerships, these hospitals are now charging less fees or providing free service to patients under Below Poverty Line (BPL) and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) .
75 out of 85 PHCs and 7 PHSCs were upgraded to 24/7 delivery centres.
102 ambulance service was made functional.
On the other hand, health indicators saw a significant improvement in the last 15 years.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which was 29 before 15 years has now been reduced to 11 and immunization coverage increased by 17 % from 76.2 to 93.1 %.
Number of doctors in position increased from 615 to 1068.HIV menace in the State also witnessed sharp decline.
During this period, the HIV Sero-Positivity Rate reduced drastically by 94 % .
Various posts in health sector were created and recruited.
At present, the State has over 1700 MBBS doctors, including 265-plus PG holders and more than 350 clinical specialists.
Adequate number of nursing and para-medical staff members have also been recruited and deployed.
The number of ANM/FHW in position increased from 412 to 543 while dental surgeons in position increased from 37 to 89.Allocation of the Health Plan Budget from the total Plan Outlay was increased from 2.8 % to 7%, which is much higher than National average.