Centre wants more public investment in NE health sector

Agartala, June 15 (UNI) The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced to increase public investment in the health sector of the Northeastern states to facilitate all modern services at minimum cost and earmarked Rs 1,013 crore for the region in the current fiscal under various schemes.

Official sources said here today the Ministry had also emphasised on achieving the outcome of reduction in disease prevalence, infant mortality, maternal mortality and the total fertility rate.

As part of the programme, the Ministry has decided to take over the management of LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, while the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, and Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing, Aizawl, had already been taken over by the Centre.

In order to improve the public health infrastructure, the Centre asked NE states to pay special attention to the region and decided to utilise 33 per cent of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) funds for the purpose, officials informed.

Tripura Health Minister Tapan Chakraborty said the Centre had appreciated Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Assam for the initiative to utilise the expertise of the Tamil Nadu Medical Supply Corporation (TNMSC) for assisting Medical colleges and civil hospitals in the region.

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