Himachal excels in rural health outreach: Dhumal

Shimla, Aug 8 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh has the maximum rural health outreach in the country and with health infrastructure facilities available within five km radius, the state excels in the national averages in health indicators, according to Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.

"The state government is committed to strengthen the health infrastructure in the rural areas and make every health institution functional. The state government has recently recruited 139 doctors to man the health institutions in the rural areas," the Chief Minister said while addressing the inaugural session of the four-day conference on Instructional Course in Spine-2008 here last night.

"Specialised medical facilities are being delivered through two medical colleges, regional, district hospitals and first referral units so that patients will not have to travel to major towns to avail such facilities," he said.

"The state has created a network of allopathic, ayurvedic, homoeopathic and unani health institutions to cater to the health care requirements of the people." He said that the IGMC was being developed as centre of excellence in health delivery system equipped with every specialised and diagnostic facilities.

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