Imphal, April 04 2010: Acknowledging bad shape healthcare service delivery system of the state, state government, in a move to ensure outreach all nook and corners of the state, has decided to induct a bulk of 440 medical officers including 39 dental surgeons.

State government took the decision despite the apprehension of hiking the non-plan fund expenditure as government will incur Rs 99 lakh per month in inducting the medical officers, according to an official source.

Considering the growing demands for the service of medical officers and dental surgeons by the public, requisitions for 401 medical officers including 332 newly created posts and 69 previously lying vacant posts and 39 dental officers have been sent to the Manipur Service Commission after obtaining views of the Department of Personnel, said an official source at the Manipur Health Service Department, the source maintained.

Manipur government will spent about Rs 99 lakhs per month and a little less than Rs 12 crore per annum in the induction of the total 440 medical officers in the state health department, the source estimated.

As this is a substantial amount and state administration has to find ways to fund it either through plan fund or meet the requirement of health service personnel through National Rural Health Mission is on the consideration at the higher level, the source further maintained.

Government is also looking for support from the 13th Finance Commission as the expenditure from the non-plan fund of the government will be growing up in meeting the financial involvement by the move of the state health department.

The move of the state health department was in the back drop of recent promises made by the Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh during his visits at the remote areas of Ukhrul at Jessami where he, in response to villagers demand assured of government immediate measured to improve the healthcare services to outreach far flung areas of the state.

Healthcare service in Manipur with a geographical area of 22,327 sq km having 22,93,896 inhabitants (according to the 2001 census) is in bad shape as the National Family Health Survey 3 (2005-2006), reported that about four-fifths of households in Manipur get health care from public health centres and hospitals (82% in rural areas and 72% in urban areas).

Some 87% of pregnant women received some prenatal care and 59% had institutional deliveries, which are a key factor in reducing maternal mortality.

About 47% of children received all vaccinations.

An estimated 89% of children under six years live in areas covered by an anganwadi centre through which the Integrated Child Development Services programme provides nutrition and health services.

However, less than one-third of these children receive services of any kind from a centre.

The prevalence of tuberculosis in Manipur 804/100,000 is twice the national average, higher than in all other states of India, except Arunachal Pradesh.

The infant mortality rate in Manipur (30/1,000 children die before the age of 1) is lower than all other states in India except Goa and Kerala.

Some 36% of children in Manipur under age five are too short for their age, which means that they have been undernourished for a long period.

Nine per cent are too thin for their height, which can be because of an acute episode of starvation or a recent illness.

Over one-fifth is underweight, which can be because of both chronic and acute under-nutrition.

Some 36% of women aged 15-49 in Manipur have anaemia, more for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and scheduled caste women.

Anaemia is more widespread now among both women and children than it was seven years ago at the time of NFHS-2 .

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