Soon, Assam government will introduce health care package for BPL families in state

Guwahati, Dec 4: Assam government would introduce a total health care package for families belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL), Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

The chief minister, at a meeting held here, directed Health and Family Welfare officials to formulate a comprehensive policy for providing total health care to such families.

Medicines along with free treatment of BPL families will be facilitated in the private nursing homes and hospitals within the state. Gogoi also directed senior health officials to ensure availability of medicines in all government hospitals and health centres.

He asked the department to formulate an action plan to fill up vacant posts in all medical colleges and health establishments. Health officials have been instructed to revive the 'MAMTA' scheme under which babies born in government hospitals are given powder, towel, mosquito net, blanket, oil cloth, etc as gifts, an official release said.

The chief minister directed Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Sanjeev Kumar to institute an inquiry into the incident that took place at Jorhat Medical College where foetuses were found in a dustbin.

Gogoi also asked the Principal Secretary to probe another incident at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital where a pregnant woman gave birth to twins in a bathroom that eventually resulted in their deaths.

PTI