Assam minister for Health & Family Welfare Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday inaugurated an MRI unit and a free dialysis centre under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme of the National Health Mission at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital situated at Tumuki in Sonitpur district and another free dialysis centre at the Kanaklata Civil Hospital in Tezpur town.
Speaking at the inaugural function at Tezpur Medical College and Hospital, the minister said the scheme by providing free dialysis facilities will go a long way in fulfilling a long-felt need of the poor, marginal and middle-class families of the region.
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He also spoke about various people-friendly schemes launched by the Government at the Centre under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The dialysis centres are being set up through a public-private partnership mode under the scheme where the dialysis machines have been provided free-of-cost to the State Government by Fairfax India Charitable Trust as a part of their Corporate Social Responsibility programme.
Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited has been selected to implement the free dialysis programme in Assam. Under the programme, the state government will pay Rs 1,296 to Apollo Hospitals, out of which 90 per cent will be borne by the central government.
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Himanta Biswa Sarma also informed that 18 free dialysis centres will be set up across the State, of which eight centres in the first phase will be inaugurated before June 20. The rest will be opened phase-wise within the next three months.
The minister also informed that post-graduate courses will be introduced in TMCH within the next year, which will be a great boost to the people of the region.
Prof (Dr) R K Kalita, principal cum chief superintendent, TMCH delivered the welcome address. Member of Parliament, Tezpur, Pallab Lochan Das and chairman, SMET of TMCH and MLA Borsola, Ganesh Limboo also spoke on the occasion.
Later in the day, the minister inaugurated the second free dialysis centre in Sonitpur district at the Kanaklata Civil Hospital in Tezpur town.
He also formally inaugurated an ambulance service at the venue. The ambulance has been provided by the Airports Authority of India to Kanaklata Civil Hospital authorities under its CSR programme.
Speaking at the programme, the minister informed that the Mother and Child Care Hospital at Poruwa in Tezpur will be inaugurated within the next two months and work on a new Cancer Institute near TMCH in Tumuki is set to commence very soon.
Addressing the gathering, MLA Tezpur Brindabon Goswami welcomed the government’s steps to provide free dialysis facilities to the poor people and at the same time informed the minister about various issues plaguing Tezpur town.
In his welcome speech, deputy commissioner Narsing Pawar on behalf of the people of the district expressed gratitude to the government for inaugurating two such free dialysis centres in Sonitpur district on the same day.
Minister for Health and Family Welfare (State) Pijush Hazarika, MP Pallab Lochan Das, SMET of TMCH and MLA Borsola, Ganesh Limboo, MLA Tezpur Brindabon Goswami, MLA Sootea Padma HAzarika, MLA Dhekiajuli Ashok Singhal, Chairman, ATPPCL, Rajen Borthakur, Vice-Chairman, AMTRON, Ritubaran Sarmah, Director, Medical Education, Prof (Dr) Anup Barman, Medical Superintendent, TMCH, Prof (Dr) Usha Sharma, Joint Director, Health Services, Dr Krishna Kemprai, Superintendent, KCH, Dr Rini Duarah, other senior doctors and medical staff and students of TMCH were present in today’s programmes.