The Jharkhand government unveiled a new plan on August 29, 2024, to alleviate the physician shortage in state-run hospitals by enlisting private physicians to serve patients in settings without specialists. At a ceremony when Chief Minister Hemant Soren gave appointment letters to 365 community health officers (CHOs), this decision was made public.
The state government is actively trying to upgrade the medical facilities and lessen the need for citizens to travel outside of Jharkhand for care, Chief Minister Soren stressed. This new regulation is a component of a larger plan to improve the state’s healthcare system.
In elaborating on the strategy, State Health Secretary Ajoy Kumar Singh said that private physicians will be brought in to cover gaps at community health centers and district hospitals, which are the areas with the greatest shortages of specialists. To close the current gaps in medical knowledge at these vital hospitals, these private practitioners will be compensated for their work.
The Chief Minister also gave a summary of recent initiatives to raise the standard of hygiene, maintenance, and repairs in hospitals, clinics, and medical schools. A ₹5 crore annual budget has been made aside for these reasons, with particular funds designated for different classes of healthcare facilities. The annual maintenance and cleaning funds allocated to sub-health centers would be ₹2 lakh, primary health centers ₹5 lakh, community health centers ₹10 lakh, sub-divisional hospitals ₹50 lakh, and district hospitals ₹75 lakh.
Apart from these steps, Soren mentioned noteworthy recruitment drives in the health sector and other domains to increase workforce. He responded to the continuous criticism about job matters, alluding to the BJP’s worries without mentioning the party. The Chief Minister appears to be committed to addressing these issues in spite of political criticism based on his comments.
Overall, by utilizing the private sector’s knowledge to address significant shortfalls, this project illustrates Jharkhand’s proactive attitude to enhancing healthcare services. The government’s commitment to improving the caliber and accessibility of healthcare in the state is demonstrated by the emphasis on recruiting and infrastructure development.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
