Telemedicine network for 15 districts in MP

Bhopal, Mar 22 (UNI) Fifteen districts in Madhya Pradesh will be linked via a telemedicine network through technology supplied by the Indian Space Research Organisation, Public Health and Family Welfare Minister Ajay Vishnoi informed the Assembly today.

Replying to the debate on budgetary demands for his departments, the Minister claimed, ''maternal mortality rate has been brought down by 24 per cent. Besides, infant mortality rate also declined while institutional delivery increased. The government has decided to initiate the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Health Insurance Scheme this year for the poor in partnership with privately-run hospitals.'' A sum of Rs 130 crore was earmarked for a new medicine policy that ''considerably'' brought down prices. Permission was sought from New Delhi for opening more primary health centres. Besides, the government decided to set up 200 more health sub-centres, 100 primary centres and 40 community centres this year. Machines were also being purchased.

''The government has put in place a system to train girls for meeting a paucity of nursing staff. A provision of Rs 123 crore was made for constructing medical buildings. A survey, underway to gather details of facilities in the state's 763 hospitals, will complete in three months,'' Mr Vishnoi explained.

A free-of-cost vehicle service would be offered in every block so that the Janani Express Scheme's benefits percolate to villagers.

Pensioner patients' treatment budget was hiked by 32 per cent.

Mr Govind Singh (Congress), Mr I M P Verma (Bahujan Samaj Party), Ms Saroj Bachchan Nayak (Janata Dal-United) and Mr Omprakash Sakhlecha (Bharatiya Janata Party) were among several members who took part in the debate.

Demands exceeding Rs 1,228.56 crore were passed by voice vote.

UNI