CM pledges better healthcare system
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, October 19 2013 : While re-asserting the Government's commitment to ensure a better healthcare system in the State, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has called upon medical practitioners to contribute their mite in transforming Manipur into a health tourism hotspot.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 18th annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India, Manipur State Chapter at RIMS Jubilee hall today, the CM said inspite of financial constraints there would be no compromise in the health care sector as focus continues to be on social health insurance scheme to cater to the poor and vulnerable people.

Stating that steps have ben initiated to provide quality services by revitalising health infrastructure and rejuvenate existing hospitals with better ones at the earliest, Ibobi noting many centres in India fast becoming health tourism hotspots, opined that Manipur with it geographical location can also become an important centre for catering health services to neighbouring State as international neighbours such as Myanmar.

CM inaugurates the 18th annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India, Manipur State Chapter at RIMS Jubilee hall

Reposing faith upon the surgeons/doctors to contribute their mite in realising the goal of transforming Manipur into a health tourism hotspot, he also pointed out that mass disaster management remains one of the prime concerns for the Government on account of the State's location in a seismically active zone.

Noting that RIMS already has a draft disaster policy in place and suggesting that medical personnel maintain constant vigil to face any eventualities triggered by natural disasters, he affirmed that the State Government is ever ready to extend all possible cooperation in check collateral loss.

Highlighting that problems related to health have a critical impact on the development and prosperity of the country as these problems are complex and interlinked, Ibobi also conceded even though policy-makers are aware of the seriousness of the problem, there is very little awareness of its different dimensions among the broader category of opinion makers and the informed public.

A kind of pressure can be generated by creating a broader awareness of the problem which generates pressure to bring about corrective action and also sufficiently broad based understanding of the problem to make corrective action politically acceptable and also implementable in the field, said the Chief Minister.

Conveying appreciation to the Association for bringing together leading specialists from the public and private organizations to share knowledge and skills with a view to provide quality healthcare in the country, he opined that such annual congregation need to be capitalised to take stock and share opinions so that outcome of the deliberations lead to the policy framework development.

Expressing that goal of the Government is to ensure long and healthy life for all citizens, increase the life expectancy and ensure that all people have access to healthcare, the CM said key outputs in this regard are to reduce the mortality rate, reduce the impact and prevalence of HIV and AIDS and other communicable diseases, and to ensure an effective health care system.

To achieve these outputs, our key activities include ensuring a well-coordinated health system with special focus on communicable and non-communicable diseases, maintained the Chief Minister.

assuring all possible initiative in his capacity to ensure that shortage of infrastructure and technologies do not come in the way of providing quality healthcare to our people, he also applauded the ASI State Chapter for diligently carrying out their academic activities with precision.

The annual conference organised as IHPB Surgery - ASIMANICON 2013 was presided over ASI Manipur State Chapter president Prof Ksh Kala Singh while MLA Dr N Bijoy Singh, Prof S Sekharjit Singh, Director RIMS; and Dr Suresh Chandra Hari, President, ASI (HQ) graced the inaugural programme as the guests of honour.

According to Prof S Sekharjit Singh theme of the annual conference this year is 'Management of Breast Cancer Paradigm Shift'.

A workshop for medical students with specialist doctors on breast cancer, including three from Japan, was held yesterday ahead of the conference, he informed.