Imphal, June 16: Manipur chief minister Nongthombam Biren Singh today said his government was planning to introduce a health insurance scheme to provide financial assistance to those who cannot afford medical treatment.
Inaugurating the North East Healthcare Conference on the theme, Building Ecosystem for Quality Healthcare Delivery, here today, Biren Singh said the conference would help improve the healthcare infrastructure and develop medical tourism in the region.
Sumant Singh, former director of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, R.C. Deka, chairman of Eastern Region Healthcare Sub-Committee, Sanjay Prasad, co-chairman and managing director of Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, and Rupak Barua, a medical professional, among others, attended the conference, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) at the City Convention Centre here. Around 300 stakeholders took part in the event.
"The conference was a great platform which sought not only to build a strong eco-system for quality healthcare delivery for the state and the region but it also made an attempt to bring investments to the Northeast," Mayank Jalan, chairman of CII North East Council, said.
Biren Singh said air mobile healthcare facilities would be made available soon in Manipur.
He said the state government has already approached the Union external affairs ministry to introduce visa-on-arrival facility for foreign nationals, particularly for citizens of Myanmar, so that medical tourism can flourish in Manipur.
Regional air connectivity will be developed soon, he added, urging investors to coordinate and exchange ideas with local entrepreneurs and doctors to boost other sectors as well.
Biren Singh said the Centre has given its nod for the establishment of a 100-bed cancer hospital and a 60-bed mental hospital in the state.
Highlighting some of the recently taken initiatives in the healthcare sector, the chief minister said various medicines are being made available at subsidised rates in 26 state-run hospitals and 57 notified medical tests will be done free of cost in the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, seven district hospitals, 17 community health centres, 85 primary health centres and nine urban primary health centres.
He said his government is committed to provide better healthcare services and almost all diagnosis would be made free soon.
Manipur health and family welfare minister L. Jayantakumar Singh said access to public healthcare sector had significantly changed and its services should be affordable to all.
Highlighting limited private healthcare facilities and shortage of doctors, paramedics and trained health workers in the state, the minister underscored the need to infuse investment in various sectors, including primary health centres and district hospitals.
