HIMACHAL PRADESH

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said a centrally-funded cancer institute in Hamirpur district is on the cards. Sukhu said this after a meeting in Delhi with oncologist Dr G K Rath, who heads the National Cancer Institute (NCI) at Aiims.

The chief minister held discussions with Rath on strengthening cancer treatment facilities and overall Health in the state, a statement issued here said. Sukhu said cancer cases in Himachal Pradesh were rising alarmingly with a Growth rate of 2.2 percent against the country’s overall growth rate of 0.6 percent. He said though 8,500 cancer cases were detected every year on Average, many cases went unreported in the remotest belts of the state, the statement said.

He urged the authorities concerned to hold cancer awareness programmes and organise workshops in collaboration with the NCI. He also asked them to ramp up screening so that proper treatment could be provided to the patients at the early stages of cancer.

Rath apprised the chief minister that 50 percent of cancer cases are curable and also briefed him about the latest technologies available for cancer treatment.

Himachal Pradesh chief ministerSukhvinder Singh Sukhu has said to increase states revenue, a technical committee would be constituted that would submit its recommendations within a month. He added that the economic condition of the state was precarious and the present was working vigorously towards resource mobilization to improve financial condition of the state.

The CM said this while presiding over a meeting ofHimachal Pradesh Power Transmission Corporation Limited(HPPTCL) in Shimla on Saturday late evening. In the meeting he stressed upon the need to prioritize revenue generation for the HPPTCL through its transmission lines. He asked the corporation to speed up its construction works and reduce the duration of its tender process to maximize revenue and benefit the people of the state.

The state is unlikely to face Oxygen shortage to fight the second corona wave.

Apart from seven oxygen Plants, already sanctioned for five medical colleges and two zonal hospitals (DDU and Dharamsala), the government is setting up oxygen plants at five more hospitals. Of the initially sanctioned seven plants, three are ready and the remaining four will be functional before April 10, said Amitabh Awasthi, Secretary, Health. Besides, we are setting up five more plants in regional hospitals. These are all 200-bedded hospitals. The plants should be functional in around 2-3 months, said Awasthi.

Of the four makeshift Covid hospitals with a capacity of 234 beds, three are ready in Shimla, Tanda and Nalagarh. The makeshift hospital at Nerchowk is the biggest of all four. Its not ready, yet we have asked the CBRI, Roorkee, to complete its 60-bedded segment by March 31, said Awasthi.

The will approach Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for financial assistance of Rs 2,835 crore for enhancing Health Infrastructure across various health institutions in the state. The Health Department is preparing a preliminary project report for discussion with JICA.

The government plans to allocate Rs 1,620 crore of this funding towards tertiary care infrastructure, including the strengthening of new medical colleges in Hamirpur, Chamba and Nahan with an expected financial outlay of Rs 1010 crore

Two flagship schemes of the Centre and the Ayushman Bharat (AB) and Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care Yojana (HIMCARE) are ailing due to the non-payment of around Rs 80 crore to private clinics and Rogi Kalyan Samitis (RKS) at government hospitals for the past several months.

The state has to pay Rs 80 crore as part of its share under the Ayushman Bharat (AB) scheme and the Mukhya Mantri Himachal Health Care Yojna (HIMCARE)

The state pays 10 per cent for the AB following which the Centre pools in the remaining 90 per cent; HIMCARE is totally funded by the state

Private clinics are now reluctant to provide Services under the two schemes due to the delay in their payment worth crores

The state pays 10 per cent of its share for the AB following which the Centre pools in the remaining 90 per cent. HIMCARE is totally funded by the state government where RKS and private hospitals empanelled under the scheme receive funds for providing cashless services

Investors termed the Union Budget as a demand booster that would make India self-reliant and reinforce the focus on a sustainable Growth. The Baddi-Barotiwala- Nalagarh Industries Association said that the Budget was balanced, progressive and visionary.

Schemes like the ECLGS or production-linked incentive (PLI) have been extended and a provision has been made to provide more for these. The credit guarantee scheme for micro and small industries will further be improved so that the Industry can avail of the maximum benefits, said president Rajinder Guleria.

To support the industry, 68 per cent of the DEFENCE budget would be spent on materials manufactured in India. The Union Government has increased Infrastructure expenditure substantially, which will generate more EMPLOYMENT and support the industry by generating demand. This will further aid Economic Development of the country, added Guleria.