The Hindu : Pondy makes rapid progress in health care: Rangasamy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 16, 2004

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Pondy makes rapid progress in health care: Rangasamy

By Our Staff Reporter

PONDICHERRY, FEB. 15. The Pondicherry Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, today said he and his cabinet colleagues would camp at villages periodically to ascertain the extent of villages covered under various schemes and plan programmes.

Inaugurating a health mela (a Central Government scheme), organised by the Department of Health to cover Bahoor, Villianoor, Embalam and Nettapakkam blocks, at a Community Health Centre at Karikalambakkam, Mr. Rangasamy said rapid progress was made in health care services and education, but still there were certain areas, which remained to be addressed.

Mr. Rangasamy said the Health department had spent nearly 95 per cent of Rs. 50 crores earmarked under the plan (2003-2004) till December last and in the next two to three months the remaining amount would be spent. The government general hospital had been catering for the health care of the people. Even patients from JIPMER were referred to the hospital as certain diagnostic equipment in the JIPMER was not operational.

He said only 15 doctor posts were vacant in the government hospitals and they would be filled up soon.

The Health Minister, E. Valsaraj, said as part of the steps taken by health authorities, the incidence of leprosy had come down to two per 10,000 people in the Union Territory as on December 2003 against 55 per 10,000 in 1989.

Health cards would be issued to people to get medical attention in government hospitals on priority. He said the JIPMER did not have MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) facility but it was available in Pondicherry government general hospital. In all as many as 179 posts were vacant in the Health Department, which would be filled soon.

Telemedicine

Telemedicine system would be introduced in collaboration with the Indian Space Research Organisation, Mr. Valsaraj said.

The PCC president, V. Narayanasamy, was also present.

The Chairman of the Pondicherry Tourism and Transport Development Corporation, N. Gangadharan, said the Ministry should not delay implementation of basic necessities on the ground that the Lt Governor's approval was awaited. It was a pity even to post overhead tank operators the Lt. Governor's nod was awaited. The government whip, P. Rajavelu, also spoke.

The Director of Health and Family Welfare Services, G.S. Reddy, said the infant mortality rate was 23 in Pondicherry against 44 in Tamil Nadu and 62 in Andhra Pradesh and 55 in Karnataka per thousand births.

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