Drug testing laboratory to be established in the State soon: Health Minister
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 15 2019:
Health Minister L Jayantakumar Singh has conveyed that the Central Government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 5 crore to establish a Drug Testing Laboratory in the State so as to monitor whether the drugs sold in the pharmacies of the State have the necessary compositions.
He made the statement to media persons at hiss office at Old Secretariat, during a book release cum press meet yesterday.
The Minister continued that work is underway to identify an appropriate spot or land for establishing the Drug testing Lab and informed that he himself took part in the Central Council of Health and Family Welfare (CCHFW) 13th conference which was held at ARNAV Prithvi Bhavan, New Delhi on October 10 and 11.Pointing out that he brought up many issues during the conference, Jayantakumar said that the conference aims to deliberate and analyse various policy and programmes, issues regarding health sector like health and wellness centre, PMJAY, non communicable diseases, condition of HIV positive people and National Health Mission etc.
He narrated that he brought up the issue of the need for the HIV positive people to get ART medicine immediately and added that the authorities concerned assured that remedial measures would be taken up and the ART will reach Imphal at the earliest.
For National Health Mission 2019-20, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has sanctioned an incentive of Rs 15.04 crore for Manipur, the Minister added.
On the other hand, Minister Jayantakumar said that at the Food Testing Lab present in the RD Wing at Lamphel, nominal fee is charged to private parties for food testing but it is free for Government Departments.
Various tests can be conducted at the said lab as long as the said items are either in solid or liquid form.
More machines will be received at the earliest and the already constructed building at Moreh is also waiting for machines to be installed, he said.
Jayantakumar conveyed that he was asked how many machines would be required for diagnosing breast cancer in Manipur, during the conference, and added that plans are being made to do the needful for getting the machines which will be provided by the CSR.
He continued that Rs 4.95 crore has been earmarked for the construction of an Accident Trauma Unit at JNIMS and stressed on the importance of the Accident Trauma Unit as Manipur is a hilly region and the people injured in accidents along the Highways need to be tended to at the earliest.
He said that if such trauma centre is established at Mao-Maram area and Henbung Kangpokpi area, it will be very beneficial for the people.
Speaking about his recent trip to Japan, the Minister said that he took part in a grand cultural festival called, Namaste India, at Tokyo and narrated that students of Government dance college as well as officials of Art and Culture Department left the State on September 25 and reached Japan airport the next day (September 26).During the cultural festival, dance consisting of Kanglei Haraoba traditional ritual, Thougan Jagoi, Kabui Jagoi which were greatly appreciated by the Japanese audience.
Many performance were also shown at other venues across Japan due to demand, he added.
The Minister informed that many Japanese expressed desire to come to Manipur and learn the traditional dances due to the uniqueness of Manipuri dance when compared to other Indian dances and the Japanese also mentioned that they will come to Manipur during the Sangai Festival as well.
During the event yesterday, the Minister released 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plant in Manipur, A concise Book of Medicinal Plants in Manipur' and 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Manipur Current Status and Future Strategies' .
Outer MP Lorho S Pfoze and Director of Art and Culture Aribam Shivdas Sharma were also present as well.
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