“Free diagnostic service scheme” launched in Himachal Pradesh.

The state has made 56 medical tests free of cost in all state hospitals. All tests related to blood, urine, ultrasound, X-ray, ECG, kidney, liver and sugar would be free. Earlier, this facility was available for BPL and Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) patients.

People from all classes shall be able to access this facility. Tenders from companies have been invited for this scheme.

In the first phase, this free test facility will be done in Medical Colleges, District Hospitals and Community Health Centres, where there are laboratories. While, where the laboratories don’t exist, the health workers shall take the samples of patients and to the laboratories and bring back the reports to the patients.

Himachal promises to become the most Healthy State of the country :

The state government has been consistently striving hard to make Himachal the best state in health sector by providing quality health care services to every citizen. Soon after assuming the office, the Chief Minister took a firm decision to fill up the 500 vacancies of Doctors and 2000 Para Medical staff. A budgetary provision of Rs 2302 crore has been made this year for the health sector.

The State Government in its first budget has launched various new health schemes alongwith effective implementation of existing ones. Most ambitious of these schemes are ‘Swasthya Main Sehbhagita Yojna’ , ‘Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna’ , ‘Mukhyamantri Rajya Swasthya Chikitsa Yojna’ , ‘Himachal Pradesh Sarvbhomik Swasthya Sanrakshan Yojna’.

Mukhyamantri Nirog Yojna’ is one of the ambitious initiatives of new government which would provide multi diagnostic facilities including random Blood Sugar test, Blood Pressure, Eye Test and other Laboratory Tests to be conducted under normal health checkups. It will help in detecting ailments in early stages and prevent long term illnesses through early diagnosis and treatment.

Under Swasthya Bima Yojna as many as 4.84 Lakh families have been covered and being given free and cashless treatment upto Rs. 30000. In case of serious diseases an amount upto Rs 1.75- 2.15 lakh will be provided under the scheme. Under ‘Himachal Pradesh Universal Health Scheme, those families are being covered which were not covered in any other free health scheme with annual premium of Rs 365.

Children are the future of country and their health is of paramount importance. In order to provide best health care at the beginning of lives of new born babies Mukhyamantri Aashirwad Yojna has been launched in the state. A kit of Rs 1500 shall be provided to the new born babies. It will benefit one Lakh new born babies and a provision of Rs 15 crore has been made for this purpose.

In order to maintain the personal hygiene for adolescent girls sanitary napkins availability is a must. The adolescent girls upto Senior Secondary School level shall be provided sanitary napkins for Rs 1 per packet. These packets will be distributed through ASHA workers. An allocation of Rs 4 crore has been made for this purpose.
For providing better health services to the people of backward and far-flung areas of the State 50 Health Sub Centres will be brought under Telemedicine scheme. At present this scheme was being implemented only in Kaza and Keylong of Lahaul Spiti District. This year the scheme will be introduced in Pangi of District Chamba.
‘Mukhyamantri Chikitsa Sahayata Kosh’ has been formed for fulfillment of the health requirements of needy and poor people. A budget Rs 10 crore has been proposed for this purpose.

The state government will encourage the private hospital facilities in the rural areas and for this purpose ‘Swasthya Main Sehbhagita Yojna’ has been announced. Under this scheme if any person/doctor establishes a private allopathic hospital in an identified rural area, then he/she will be provided an investment subsidy of 25 percent for establishment of hospital upto an investment of Rs 1 crore and 5 percent interest subsidy for three years for the loan taken from the bank. This will help in providing better health facilities in the rural areas.

According to the Health Minister, that this service has brought a revolutionary change in the health sector. Govt. further added that the main objective of this service is to provide immediate primary health treatment by taking patient to the nearest hospital at the time of emergency. National Ambulance Services -108 has helped in resolving 10,09,110 health related cases, 23929 Police related cases and 5852 fire related cases helping public at large. As many as 31 Medicines, 2 Stretchers and 21 other emergency equipments has been ensured as per the laid criteria.

Health service has witnessed a massive change due to National Ambulance Service. As many as 198 Ambulances have been deployed in different parts of the state and the response time for NAS is 4 minutes. Through this ambulance service 1 life is being saved during every hour of emergency. This service has proved to be a boon especially for pregnant women. In urban areas this Ambulance takes an average time of 12 minutes whereas in rural areas it takes just 35 minute to reach hospital. Till now this service has served in 10.50 lakh emergency cases.

Under the scheme ‘Janani Suraksha Yojna’ - National Ambulance Service - 102 has been started. This service helps in taking mother and child to home free of cost. Presently 126 Ambulances have been deployed for this purpose. In addition to this by keeping the geographical conditions in view ‘Bike Ambulance Service’ has been started. This service is also known as First Responder Bike. Himachal Pradesh is the only northern state to launch this service.