Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday inaugurated an MRI machine in Champawat and announced a series of healthcare infrastructure projects worth over $Rs 40 crore is aimed at strengthening medical facilities in the border region and adjoining hill areas.
An MRI machine was installed at a cost of approx $The Rs 6 lakh crore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) support from ICICI Inclusive Growth Foundation is expected to significantly improve access to advanced diagnostic services for the residents of Champawat and adjoining areas.
Addressing a public program in Champawat, the Prime Minister said that a healthy Uttarakhand is the foundation of a strong, self-reliant and developed nation. He said that the government is not only focusing on building hospitals but also on equipping them with modern medical technology, trained staff and high-quality healthcare services.
Dhami said the MRI facility will benefit thousands of people from Champawat, Pithoragarh, Almora, Nainital and other neighboring border districts, who earlier had to travel to Haldwani and major cities for complex diagnostic procedures.
“Serious patients had to spend a lot of time, money and effort traveling outside the region for MRI scans. Now advanced investigations related to brain, spine, nerves, joints, cancer and stroke will be available locally,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister also reviewed the ongoing healthcare infrastructure projects in the region. He said that a 50-bed critical care complex is being set up at Champawat District Hospital at a cost of about 100 beds $20 Crores. In addition, a modern diagnostic suite, operating room and parking are being developed at the hospital at a cost of $1,000 $11.71 Crores.
Dhami said the government is also working to boost healthcare education and the workforce. A hostel for the Integrated Nursing Institute with a capacity of 129 beds has been completed at a cost $4.7 lakh crore, while work on setting up a new para-medical college in Champawat is progressing rapidly.
Schemes like Ayushman Bharat and Atal Ayushman Uttarakhand were ensuring free and cashless treatment to hundreds of thousands of families across the state, he added.
