Date:30/06/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/06/30/stories/2006063000240900.htm

Other States - Assam

Assam to have 25 mobile medical units

Special Correspondent

Guwahati: The Assam Health Department has decided to introduce 25 mobile medical units to reach out to people in remote areas where healthcare services are not easily available.

The department has also appointed 200 doctors against 276 vacant posts and will fill the remaining 76 posts in different rural health centres from among retired government doctors.

These doctors were selected in a walk-in interview conducted by the department on June 7 and 8.

Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that each of the 25 mobile medical units would comprise three vehicles — one Tata Sumo and two vans which would be equipped with X-ray machines and a minor operation theatre.

Each of these mobile units would cost Rs. 80 lakh.

A sum of Rs. 5,000 would be provided for every unit to meet daily expenses.

Mr. Sarma said that the mobile units would be kept at the disposal of district civil hospital from which a team of doctors and paramedics would be travelling everyday to different villages for providing health care services at patients' doorstep.

On steps being initiated by the department to motivate doctors to serve in rural health centres, the minister said that the state government has released Rs. 28 crore for repairing doctors' quarters and for improving other infrastructure in different districts. Besides, the department has been working on an incentive package for doctors serving in rural areas.

Walk-in interview for recruitment of retired government doctors for 76 vacant posts will be held on July 3.

The Government has offered salary of Rs. 20,000 for those having postgraduate degree and Rs. 15,000 for those with MBBS degree while they would continue to get pension benefits.

To ensure quality of medical infrastructure, the Health Department has decided to open a separate engineering cell for which three to four junior engineers would be appointed on contract basis.

The cell would be tasked to evaluate quality to construction and engineering works to be implemented by the Public Works Department, the Minister said.