Health, Railways Ministries to develop healthcare facilities along railway network

New Delhi, Feb 5(ANI): In a new initiative in the field of providing access to good health care facilities to common people across the country, Health and Family Welfare Ministry and Railways Ministry on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding for development of healthcare infrastructure along the railway network of the country.

The MoU was signed in New Delhi by Secretary of Health, Health and Family Welfare Ministry K. Sujatha Rao and Chairman of Railway Board S. S. Khurana in the presence of Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Railways Minister Mamata Bannerjee.

Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Dinesh Trivedi was also present.

According to the MoU, the two Ministries will collaborate to develop healthcare facilities both for allopathic and Indian Systems of Medicine viz diagnostic centres, out-patient centres, inpatient medical treatment centres, super speciality hospitals, medical colleges and nursing colleges.

These health care facilities could also be used as trauma centres for emergencies, accidents and natural disasters.

Apart from railway passengers, Indian Railway employees and their families, public living around such areas and other citizens will also benefit from the proposed facilities.

Ministry of railways has identified land areas it can spare all over the country, and tentatively identified 361 plots of at least 200 Sqm each, 88 land areas of 5 acres each and 41 land areas of 20 Acre in the vicinity of railway stations.

The Ministry of Railways will add to the list of spareable land bank on ongoing basis as and when available. More land can be provided depending on need and availability.

Wherever feasible the hospitals will be developed with a planning to connect them to medical college at later date.

The Ministries will set up High Power Working Group to work out a time bound programme with a view to early identification of specific projects which could be taken up on priority basis. ANI)