Reported by Mrinal Banik
Agartala: Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha on Wednesday said that out-of-state referrals of patients for advanced treatment have declined by 80 per cent due to significant improvements in Tripura’s healthcare infrastructure and increased government investment in the sector.
Addressing a programme at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan to mark International Nurses Day, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said the state government’s expenditure on healthcare now surpasses that of many corporate hospitals.
“The data that I have received shows that out-of-state referral cases have reduced by 80 per cent. We now have almost all the facilities here, and our spending on health is more than that of a corporate hospital,” Saha said.
Highlighting the contribution of nurses to the healthcare system, the Chief Minister described them as the backbone of medical services and said the entire delivery mechanism would collapse without their support.
He acknowledged that doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers remain under constant pressure and must continuously adapt to diverse challenges in the profession.
Saha also noted that nursing professionals from the state are increasingly securing employment opportunities abroad. He said the government has initiated foreign language training programmes for nurses to improve their global employability and competitiveness.
“It is a matter of pride for us that the state’s nursing professionals are finding opportunities abroad. The government has taken initiatives to train nurses in foreign languages to facilitate international employment,” he said.
The Chief Minister stressed that professional conduct and behavioural ethics are as important as academic qualifications in the nursing profession. He urged nurses to improve their “employability quotient” through continuous skill development and refinement of interpersonal behaviour.
Drawing comparisons with nurses from South Indian states, Saha said their professional reputation is shaped not only by clinical competence but also by their attitude and conduct towards patients.
“It is not that only South Indian nurses are good at their work. They have worked on their attitude, manners and behaviour towards patients,” he added.
State health department officials, including the Health Secretary, were also present at the event.