Dharamsala: Prem Kumar Dhumal, Chief Minister, said that the state government would explore the possibilities of completing the ambitious Swami Vivekanand Medical Research Trust (VMRT), Palampur, in joint venture and make the same functional to deliver people specialized medical services and research facilities in different disciplines. He was addressing the State Level Meeting of the Indian Medical Association, Himachal Pradesh Chapter, members at Dharamshala.
Chief Minister said that the state government had provided land to the Trust to construct and make functional the medical college and research centre at token lease money. He said that the Centre had already started treating patients through naturopathy and other ancient system of medicine which was benefitting large number of people visiting the Centre from within and outside the country. He said that efforts would be made to rope in some reputed medical education and health services company to enter into joint operation of the Centre so that it could emerge one of the best diagnostic and treatment centre in the state. He said that best efforts were being made to realize the dream of former Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, who had made Himachal Pradesh as his home, to make the state a centre of quality health infrastructure and educational hub keeping in view the most precious natural healthy and pollution free environment of the state. He said that IGMC in Shimla was already rendering specialized medical services to the people while Dr. Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College, Kangra at Tanda, was nearing completion and would be in a position to cater to quality health services of the people.
Prof. Dhumal said that the state government would be considering disqualification of the doctors involved in illegal sex determination tests and withdraw their professional degrees as a punishment. He said that the government was concerned over the decreasing female population ratio in the state which was bound to affect the social system and coming generation. He said that although strict vigil was being maintained over the private clinics carrying illegal pre natal tests and regular reports were being summoned from the registered centres to keep track of all such cases taking place all over the state. He said that flying squads were also raiding clinics carrying such tests all over the state and sealed the same besides dealing with them as per the legal provisions.
Chief Minister emphasized the need to create social awareness amongst the masses about the drastic affects of the disproportionate sex ratio and the sin people were committing by getting their female fetus aborted. He called it a crime against humanity and especially women. He said that stringent legal provisions were in vogue to curb such practices by imposing fine and imprisonment over the people involved in such unlawful activities. He said that no endeavour of the state would achieve its objective unless society did not come forward with its active involvement in making the same successful. He urged the people and NGOs. to bring all such cases to the notice of the state government so that strict action was taken against errant people.
Dhumal said that best efforts would be made involve the big and marginal investors in sharing the social responsibility of the state. He said that people of the state had been providing their land and resources to pave the way for industrial and hydro power generation projects and deserved fair treatment at the hands of the investors. He said that state government would be approaching the private players to come forward in adopting educational, health and other public service oriented institutions in their operational areas for its effective functioning so that people residing in the area were benefitted with the services. He said that although legal provisions had been made for spending certain share of the project over local area development but it would be appreciated if the private entrepreneurs come forward with concrete proposals to carry social responsibilities voluntarily.
Chief Minister said that state would be exploring the possibilities of encouraging public-private participation in opening quality medical, engineering and information technology institutions in different disciplines all over the state to make Himachal a hub of vocational education matching the global standards. He said that large investments were likely to be attracted in the education field from globally reputed companies where state would act as facilitator. He said that Himachal Pradesh had emerged the first state in the country which opened the First IT University in the country during the earlier tenure of the government. He said that the state offers best environment for the IT and BT education which would be exploited with ecological safeguards for the benefit of the people and the state. He said that in coming years people from all over the world would be attracted to study in Himachal Pradesh.
Prof. Dhumal appreciated the contribution of the Indian Medical Association in implementation of the health oriented policies and programmes of the government. He said that effective implementation of all the programmes with its association would help in making every Himachali hale and hearty. He assured all possible help from the government for effective functioning of the organization.
Dr. S.P.Khera, President of Himachal Chapter of the Indian Medical Association, welcomed the Chief Minister, and detailed the activities of the organization and its contribution in implementation of various central and state sponsored health programmes.
